By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Confirmed: Stuttgart to sign centre-back on a permanent deal

VfB Stuttgart will activate an option to sign Jubilo Iwata loanee Hiroki Ito on a permanent basis, according to head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Hiroki Ito.
Hiroki Ito.Photo: Jeollo, Vfb-exklusiv.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
VfB Stuttgart have confirmed that 22-year-old loanee Hiroki Ito will be tied down to a permanent deal.

The Bundesliga outfit will activate an option to sign the central defender on a permanent deal from his parent club, Jubilo Iwata.

"We will sign him permanently," confirmed Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, according to Bild.

Ito scored his first Bundesliga goal in Friday's 2-1 win over Mainz. He has featured 11 times for Stuttgart so far.

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