Just a week after it was reported that FC Bayern were looking to offload Matthijs de Ligt, the Bavarians have welcomed a new centre back.

✍️ #FCBayern verpflichtet Hiroki #Ito 🔴⚪

🔗 https://t.co/cR92ufNCJu#ServusHiroki #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/vHfviP3b6F

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) June 13, 2024

Stuttgart Stalwart Hiroki Itō will be the first signing in the Vincent Kompany era. Bayern have formally triggered a €30 million release clause in the Japanese defenders contract.

Itō joined VFB Stuttgart on an initial loan from Júbilo Iwata of the J League. The Samurai Blue star impressed in Germany and signed with Stuttgart permanently for just €400k.

Hiroki #Ito verlässt den #VfB. Der japanische Nationalspieler macht von seiner vertraglich vereinbarten Ausstiegsklausel Gebrauch. Künftig läuft der 25-Jährige für den @FCBayern auf.
Vielen Dank für deinen Einsatz, Hiroki! ⚪🔴
🔗 Zur Meldung: https://t.co/qvsPjooeZY pic.twitter.com/oaCq07G2ex

— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) June 13, 2024

Just a year later, Tottenham target Itō has finalised a €30 million move to the 32-time Bundesliga champions.

It was rumoured that Ange Postecoglu was willing to wait on the 25 year old defender to assess other options, and Bayern jumped ahead in the race for Itō.

Bayern’s new acquisition played a pivotal role in a historical season for his current club Stuttgart as they finished second in the Bundesliga, their best season in over 20 years.

Left footed, but competent with both feet, the Japanese jewel signs a contract until June 2028. Speaking of his move to Munich, Itō said “It was time to take a new step, for me FC Bayern is the perfect club for that.”

🚨Now official: Hiroki #Ito, new player of FC Bayern!

… with a contract signed until 2028!

Our news, now confirmed ✔️🏁🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/fFyGt6NLTS

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 13, 2024

Sporting Director Christoph Freund added, “Hiroki is tall, aggressive, has a strong left foot, an excellent passing game and is versatile in defence because he can play on the left side as well as centrally. He came to Germany as a young player, has developed extremely well and we are sure that he still has further potential.”

FC Bayern are still said to be working on the signing of Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, despite the signing addition of yet another central defender.