Ajax set to be without Japanese defender for clash with FC Groningen Japanese defender Ko Itakura will miss the upcoming match between his current club Ajax and his former employers FC Groningen. Fred Grim confirmed that the Ajax defender has been dealing with back issues for several weeks, having not appeared in the Eredivisie since January 24th. Itakura was on the bench for Ajax during their recent encounter against AZ. Itakura joined Ajax in the summer from Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he had spent three seasons. Prior to that, he played for Schalke 04, the club he left to join the Eredivisie in 2021. Before his move to Ajax, the 29-year-old had made 59 appearances for FC Groningen. Since joining Ajax, he has featured in 21 games. Ajax enters the match with a five-match unbeaten run, though they have only secured one victory in that span. The team faces a Groningen side that has struggled significantly after a strong start to the season. Groningen have not won since January 18th and are on a six-game losing streak. While they are not in immediate danger of relegation, their recent form has been a stark contrast to their early-season success.#borussia_monchengladbach #fc_groningen #ajax #ko_itakura #schalke_04
