Tomiyasu to Ajax: Potential & Injury Concerns

The arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu (28) to Ajax is final. The transfer-free Japanese former Arsenal defender signed a half-season contract today, until June 30, 2026.

Football director Marijn Beuker calls Tomiyasu “an excellent defender with extensive experience in several top competitions. He is an intelligent defender who is completely two-legged.”

Beuker is not worried about Tomiyasu’s injury history. “He has worked hard on his recovery from the start, the medical staff have examined him thoroughly and he can immediately join the group training as soon as his work visa has been cleared.”

Tomiyasu came to Europe from Japan at the age of 19, to play for Belgian side Sint-Truiden. Eighteen months later, the Japanese left for Bologna in Serie A. A transfer to England followed in 2021, when Arsenal took him over.

However, he played his last official game for the English top club on October 5, 2024. Then he played six minutes, his only playing minutes of last season, before a knee injury kept him sidelined for a long time. In the previous seasons, Tomiyasu had also had to watch several times due to injuries.

Last summer, the 42-time Japanese international’s contract with Arsenal, which continued for another season, was terminated by mutual agreement.

Last week it was announced that Ajax had reached an agreement in outline with Tomiyasu, who hopes to play in Japan’s World Cup selection in Amsterdam.

Tomiyasu played at both left and right back during his years at Arsenal. Trainer Mikel Arteta mainly used him to control strong, fast wingers.

As a left back, he often came into midfield to participate in position play. On the right flank he mainly came up from the outside.

Tomiyasu also played a lot in the center of defense earlier in his career. In Japan he is still an option (if fit) as a central defender, on the right side of a three-man defense.