Takehiro Tomiyasu has opened up on Arsenal’s shock decision to terminate his contract.
The Japan international had been a bastion of dependability whenever called up on by Mikel Arteta following his move from Bologna four years ago.
Able to play with comfort in any position across the backline, Tomiyasu’s versatility proved vital to Arteta over various points of his Gunners career.
Sadly for the 26-year-old, a series of debilitating injuries robbed him of potentially the peak years of his career.
Indeed, Tomiyasu made just one solitary appearance last season as a late substitute against Southampton back in October.
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It transpired that a player who spent most of his time at Arsenal at full-back had suffered a second serious knee ligament injury.
Tomiyasu’s deal had been due to expire at the end of next season but the player and club came e to an agreement and he will leave immediately by mutual consent.
Opening up on what was a painful and emotional decision, he told DAZN Japan: ‘There are a lot of things I can’t say! It’s not that it was decided all of a sudden. I want to say clearly that the contract was not unilaterally terminated and I didn’t unilaterally say, ‘I’m leaving now’.’
‘We discussed it properly & said this was the best decision for me, the club and everyone. I came to the conclusion to leave the club, but it ended on good terms.“
‘I had been at the club for four years, I had only played five minutes in the 2024/25 season and I’ve been rehabilitating for a year. I was living with stress & anxiety.
‘To be honest, I felt like I was no longer there, or rather, ‘I wonder if my future is here?’’
He added: ‘After I decided to leave, I said my final goodbyes to the players, coaches, and staff. I went to the locker room or staff room one by one and said, ‘I’m leaving.’
‘As I said my goodbyes to each and every one of them, I was reminded that I was loved, and that was when I was able to leave.
‘I think that was a good thing. The players (teammates) were surprised, too, as I still had time left on my contract and I was injured.’