Takehiro Tomiyasu agrees deal with new club after shock Arsenal exit

Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Ajax.

Tomiyasu has been without a club since departing Arsenal by mutual consent back in early July.

While there had been 12 months remaining on Tomiyasu’s contract, it was decided that it was best for all parties that the versatile 27-year-old should be allowed to leave.

When fully fit and available, Tomiyasu proved an invaluable member of Arsenal first-team squad, featuring primarily as a right-back under Mikel Arteta.

The Japan international occasionally filled in on the opposite flank while also providing excellent cover for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at the heart of the defence.

But Tomiyasu’s fitness problems stacked up as his Arsenal career wore on and a serious knee injury, that required surgery, meant he played just seven minutes of football last season.

In the intervening months, Tomiyasu has made significant strides with his rehabilitation back home in Japan and he will soon sign a sixth-month contract with Ajax, according to ESPN.

Tomiyasu’s long-running fitness problems mean the Dutch outfit are only willing to offer a short-term deal at this stage – but that could change if he is able to remain injury-free.

Ajax’s hierarchy are keen to bolster their defence after a disappointing start to the campaign, with the club sitting fourth in the Eredivisie and trailing top-of-the-table PSV Eindhoven by 14 points.

There has been very little for Ajax fans to cheer about in Europe either. The four-time European champions sit rock-bottom of the Champions League standings having lost all five of their opening contests in the competition.

Tomiyasu is set to join Ajax with uncertainty hanging over the club’s managerial position after John Heitinga was relieved of his duties just six months into his reign in Amsterdam.

Fred Grim has taken over the reins on an interim basis and will remain in the dugout until a permanent solution is found.

Tomiyasu addressed the circumstances of his Arsenal departure over the summer, stressing that ‘it all ended amicably’ with the north London club.

‘It wasn’t a sudden decision to leave,’ he explained.

‘First of all, I want to make it clear that my contract wasn’t terminated unilaterally, and I didn’t unilaterally say, “I’m leaving”.

‘We had a proper discussion and came to the conclusion that “this decision is best for me, for the club, and for everyone”, so I’m leaving. It all ended amicably.

‘I was there for four years, but I only played five minutes in the 2024/25 season, and I spent a whole year in rehabilitation. I was under a lot of stress and anxiety.

‘From my perspective, it’s the best timing. I’ll be free, and most importantly, the most positive thing about this decision is that it will allow me to focus on my rehabilitation and on myself.’

Once he is able to prove his fitness, Tomiyasu may have Japan’s 2026 World Cup campaign as a target at the back of his mind

‘To answer simply, I think he can make it,’ Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu said of Tomiyasu’s World Cup hopes last month.

‘If he is in good shape, he will be a candidate to help Japan challenge to win the World Cup in North America.’

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