Japan international Ko Itakura has joined German second division side Schalke 04 on a one-year loan deal from Manchester City.
Schalke announced the move on their official website on Friday and revealed they have an option to buy the 24-year-old upon completion of the season.
Itakura joined City in January 2019 and was immediately loaned to Dutch side Groningen, where he spent the last two-and-a-half seasons.
Itakura was a member of the Japan squad that finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympic Games and has also played five times for Hajime Moriyasu's senior national team set-up.
(Reporting by Michael Church; editing by Jane Wardell)
