SUMMARY
- Junya Ito faces sexual assault allegations, leading Japanese authorities to launch an investigation.
- Ito currently plays for Stade Reims in Ligue 1 and became the third Japanese player to score in the league.
Junya Ito rose through the ranks of the domestic soccer leagues in his home country Japan. The 30-year-old winger cum striker is a versatile forward player. He can play as a right-winger, a left-winger, and as well as a center-forward if required by his team.
The Japanese international made his debut for his country at the highest level in the year 2017. He has so far played 54 matches for Japan on the international stage. In these matches, he has managed to score a decent tally of 13 goals. Junya Ito has also represented the Japan Under-23 side earlier in his career.
The Japanese player has recently been in the headlines. He has been linked to a speculated transfer move to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. However, a recent report regarding Junya Ito has made him more of a subject of discussion in the soccer world.
Junya Ito is accused of sexual assault
The Japan international striker and Ligue 1 player Junya Ito has been accused of a serious allegation. As per a report by ‘Transfer News Live’ on ‘X’, the Japanese police authorities have started a probe into the 30-year-old. It is due to two women accusing the player of sexual assault.
🚨 Japanese police have launched an investigation into Japan striker Junya Ito, after two women accused him of sexual assault.
The Stade de Reims player denies the accusations and intends to file a case of defamation.
(Source: Kyodo News) pic.twitter.com/eid5Ki9fuW
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 1, 2024
However, the report further inflicts that Junior Ito is in denial of such accusations against him. The Japanese player also plans to further file a defamation case regarding the matter. Any official confirmation regarding the accusations against the player has not yet been officially called upon by the Japanese national team and his Ligue 1 club Stade Reims.
Junya Ito’s soccer career so far
Junya Ito currently plays for the Ligue 1 side Stade Reims at the club level. He joined the club in July 2022. His current contract with the French side runs until June 2026. In his first season at France’s top-flight soccer, Ito became the only third player from Japan to net a goal in Ligue 1.
3 – Junya Ito (Reims) is only the third Japanese player ever to score a goal in Ligue 1, after Daisuke Matsui (17) and Hiroki Sakai (1). Samurai. #SDROL @OptaJiro pic.twitter.com/nQQLknthFx
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) August 28, 2022
In the 2023-2024 season of the French league, he has registered two goals and four assists for Reims in his 17 outings for the club till now. In the early days of his professional soccer career, Ito played for Japanese clubs like – Kanagawa Uni, Ventforet Kofu, and Kashiwa Reysol.
He mainly got his recognition at the highest level when he signed for the Belgium club KRC Genk in the year 2019. It was his performances with Genk that made Stade Reims sign him in the summer of 2022. His current market value is touted to be around $9.64 million. More consistent showings at the club level could put the Japanese player on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in Europe.