Soccer-Bayern sign Japanese defender Ito from Stuttgart

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Germany - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v VfB Stuttgart - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - August 25, 2023 VfB Stuttgart's Hiroki Ito reacts REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/ File Photo

(Reuters) - Bayern Munich have signed defender Hiroki Ito from VfB Stuttgart with the 25-year-old Japan international signing a four-year contract, the German club said on Thursday.

Ito played 26 times for Stuttgart this season as the club managed to finish second behind champions Bayer Leverkusen while the left back, who can also play centrally, helped Japan reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup earlier this year.