Takehiro Tomiyasu agrees take care of latest club after shock Arsenal exit | Football

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

Tomiyasu has been with no 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 ought to be allowed to depart.

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

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

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

Within the intervening months, Tomiyasu has made significant strides along with his rehabilitation back home in Japan and he’ll soon sign a sixth-month contract with Ajax, in response to ESPN.

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

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

There was little or no 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 within the competition.

Tomiyasu is ready to affix 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 can remain within the dugout until a everlasting solution is found.

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

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

‘To begin with, I need to make it clear that my contract wasn’t terminated unilaterally, and I didn’t unilaterally say, “I’m leaving”.

‘We had a correct discussion and got here to the conclusion that “this decision is best for me, for the club, and for everybody”, so I’m leaving. All of it ended amicably.

‘I used to be there for 4 years, but I only played five minutes within the 2024/25 season, and I spent a complete yr in rehabilitation. I used to be under plenty of stress and anxiety.

‘From my perspective, it’s one of the best timing. I’ll be free, and most significantly, probably the most positive thing about this decision is that it’ll allow me to give attention to my rehabilitation and on myself.’

Once he’s capable of prove his fitness, Tomiyasu can have Japan’s 2026 World Cup campaign as a goal behind his mind

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

‘If he’s in fine condition, he will likely be a candidate to assist Japan challenge to win the World Cup in North America.’

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