Itten will play Bundesliga football next season despite being relegated to the third tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf, after Werder Bremen confirmed the signing of the towering striker.
The move is a free transfer, made possible by Dusseldorf's relegation. As is customary, Werder have not disclosed the length of Itten's contract.
The 1.90m forward is currently with Switzerland at the World Cup in North America.
Werder's head of professional football Peter Niemeyer explained the thinking behind the signing.
"Cedric is a player who fits excellently into the profile we were looking for. At 29, he has a lot of experience, gained both at his previous clubs and with the Swiss national team. These qualities will offer real added value to our team," Niemeyer said.
Itten explained what convinced him to join.
"Werder is a great traditional club, and the conversations with those in charge went very well. The exchange with the coach, who I already know from the past, was also great. After that it quickly became clear to me that I wanted to do this," Itten said.
Itten scored 15 goals in 30 appearances in the second tier last season, a respectable return that nonetheless was not enough to keep Dusseldorf in the second division. He will now test himself in the German top flight.
The Swiss forward previously played for Basel, Luzern, St Gallen, Rangers and Young Boys before a brief loan spell at Greuther Furth, building a reputation as a reliable goalscoring presence across Swiss and German football during a varied career. His move to Bremen represents a fresh opportunity to establish himself at the top level of German club football after a single season at Dusseldorf.
Werder are reshaping their attacking options for next season, and Itten's signing adds physical presence and experience to a forward line the club's hierarchy clearly felt needed strengthening.
His arrival on a free transfer, a direct consequence of Dusseldorf's relegation, represents shrewd business for a Bundesliga club able to take advantage of another team's misfortune.