Takehiro Tomiyasu Reaches Verbal Agreement with Ajax on Short-Term Deal Until June 2026

Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has reached a verbal agreement to join Dutch giants Ajax on a short-term contract valid until June 2026. The 27-year-old Japanese international is set to undergo his medical examination on Tuesday, with the deal expected to be finalized shortly if no issues arise during the fitness assessments.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and multiple reliable sources, the agreement marks a new chapter for Tomiyasu after leaving Arsenal by mutual consent in July 2025. The versatile defender has spent recent months completing a comprehensive rehabilitation program following knee surgery in February, and is now considered ready to resume competitive football.

Ajax’s Strategic Thinking Behind the Move

Ajax’s decision to pursue Tomiyasu comes during a turbulent period for the Amsterdam giants. Despite their storied history—including 36 Eredivisie titles and four European Cups/Champions Leagues—the club has experienced an uneven campaign and is focused on stabilizing their season. CEO Alex Kroes and financial director Shashi Baboeram Panday have been working on the contractual details, while director of football Marijn Beuker has assessed the sporting aspects in consultation with the scouting department and technical staff.

The presence of Japanese teammate Ko Itakura at Ajax played a significant role in Tomiyasu’s decision. Having a familiar face and cultural connection in the dressing room will ease his integration into Dutch football. Additionally, with Japan set to face the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup, the defender understands that his path to the tournament hinges on finding regular playing time quickly.

Ajax views Tomiyasu’s experience at elite European level as valuable despite the short duration of the initial deal. His versatility—capable of playing right-back, left-back, or center-back—addresses multiple positional needs within the squad. The club is also preparing to move to a new stadium and wants to build a competitive team capable of challenging for domestic and European honors.

The agreement represents a calculated risk for both parties. For Ajax, currently sitting third in the Eredivisie, the short-term performance-based contract provides a low-risk opportunity to add experience and quality to their defensive options without long-term financial commitment. For Tomiyasu, it offers the platform he desperately needs to prove his fitness and rebuild his career at one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.

The contract structure is notably centered around appearances and performance, with Tomiyasu’s salary dependent on his playing minutes. This pragmatic approach reflects both Ajax’s current financial prudence and the realistic assessment of the defender’s recent injury history. Reports suggest the deal includes an option to extend for an additional season based on his performances throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

Transfer Details and Agreement Structure

Tomiyasu’s Arsenal Career and Departure

Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in August 2021 for a fee reported between £15.5 million and £17 million. The Japanese international immediately made an impact, winning Arsenal’s Player of the Month award in September 2021 after seamlessly settling into the right-back position.

Arsenal Career Statistics

During his time at Arsenal, Tomiyasu became a fan favorite, affectionately known as “Tomi” around the club. Manager Mikel Arteta consistently praised his professionalism, versatility, and impact both on and off the pitch. “I love him. Everybody loves him. He’s one of the most popular in the dressing room,” Arteta said. “You can see the reaction of his teammates towards him. He’s always very reserved and always doing things for the rest of the boys.”

However, Tomiyasu’s Arsenal career was ultimately defined by persistent injury problems. He suffered multiple muscle injuries throughout his tenure, limiting his ability to establish extended runs of form. The 2024-25 season proved particularly challenging when a serious knee injury sustained during pre-season with Japan required surgery in February 2025, effectively ending his Arsenal career.

The Mutual Consent Decision

Arsenal and Tomiyasu reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract in July 2025, one year before its scheduled expiration. The decision followed increased competition for defensive positions due to the arrivals of Riccardo Calafiori and the club’s strong defensive depth, which limited his pathway back into the first team even after recovery.

Tomiyasu has spoken candidly about this difficult period. “We concluded that this is the best outcome for me, the club, and everyone involved,” he reflected. “I only played five minutes in the 2024-25 season. I spent the entire year in rehabilitation. Honestly, my heart wasn’t really in it anymore. I started asking myself, ‘Do I really have a future here?‘”

The emotional weight of the decision was evident, but both parties handled the separation professionally. Arsenal expressed gratitude for his contributions and wished him well, while Tomiyasu acknowledged that the move was necessary for his career progression. His final competitive appearance for Arsenal came in October 2024 in a 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton.

The Road to Recovery

Since leaving Arsenal, Tomiyasu has focused intensively on rehabilitation and regaining full fitness. The knee injury that required surgery in February was serious, keeping him sidelined for months. However, recent reports confirm he has returned to full training and is physically ready to resume competitive football.

The rehabilitation process has been comprehensive, addressing not just the surgical repair but also the surrounding muscle conditioning and movement patterns necessary to prevent recurrence. Tomiyasu has worked with specialist physiotherapists and conditioning coaches to ensure his return to action is sustainable rather than rushed.

For Ajax, the medical examination scheduled for Tuesday represents a crucial checkpoint. Given Tomiyasu’s recent injury history, the club will conduct thorough assessments to ensure he is genuinely ready for the physical demands of professional football. The performance-based nature of his contract reflects this cautious approach—both parties are protecting themselves while creating opportunity for success.

World Cup 2026 Ambitions

A significant motivation driving Tomiyasu’s move to Ajax is his determination to represent Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The defender has earned 42 caps for his national team since making his international debut in 2018, and was part of Japan’s squads at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Cup.

However, his last appearance for the Samurai Blue came in June 2024, before his injury problems intensified. With the World Cup approaching, time is running short for Tomiyasu to prove his fitness and force his way back into national team consideration.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu recently offered encouragement, suggesting Tomiyasu still has a realistic chance of making the squad. “To answer simply, I think he can make it,” Moriyasu said. “If he is in good shape, he will be a candidate to help Japan challenge to win the World Cup in North America.”

This statement provides hope, but Tomiyasu knows he must demonstrate consistent availability and performance at club level. The Ajax move represents his best opportunity to accumulate the playing time necessary to convince Moriyasu of his readiness for the global stage.

Career Path Before Arsenal

Before his Premier League move, Tomiyasu established himself as one of Asia’s most promising defenders through impressive performances in Belgium and Italy. He began his professional career at Avispa Fukuoka in Japan’s J1 League, where he came through the youth academy before making his senior debut in 2015.

Pre-Arsenal Career Timeline

Interestingly, as an 11-year-old, Tomiyasu was recommended to complete a trial at Barcelona, who were so impressed they offered him a place in their academy. However, he turned it down because relocating to Spain was too difficult for his family at the time—a decision that shaped his alternative path to European football.

His move to Belgian side Sint-Truiden in 2018 marked his European debut. After initially missing most of his first season due to injury, he established himself as a regular in his second year, making 41 appearances and winning the club’s Player of the Season award playing primarily as a center-back.

Bologna signed Tomiyasu in June 2019 for £7.5 million, and he quickly adapted to Serie A’s tactical demands. Over two seasons with the Italian club, he made 63 appearances, scored three goals, and showcased the versatility that would later attract Arsenal’s attention. His performances in Italy earned praise from former Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni, who credited Bologna manager Siniša Mihajlović for developing Tomiyasu by using him at full-back before transitioning him to center-back.

Playing Style and Tactical Versatility

Tomiyasu’s greatest asset is his positional versatility combined with technical quality. Standing 1.85 meters tall and possessing excellent defensive fundamentals, he can operate effectively across the entire defensive line. His tactical intelligence allows him to understand different positional requirements quickly, making him valuable for managers dealing with injury crises or tactical adjustments.

At right-back, his natural position, Tomiyasu provides defensive solidity while contributing to build-up play with composed passing. His left-footed capability means he can also play left-back when required, as Arsenal frequently utilized during Oleksandr Zinchenko’s absences. As a center-back, his aerial ability and reading of the game come to the fore.

Football London described him after his first Arsenal season as “defensively immaculate and technically excellent,” noting how he “instantly transformed the right back position from one of weakness into one of strength.” This assessment captured Tomiyasu’s immediate impact and the qualities that made him so valued by teammates and coaches alike.

What Ajax Fans Can Expect

Ajax supporters can anticipate a professional, hard-working defender who prioritizes defensive responsibilities while remaining comfortable in possession. Tomiyasu is not an attacking full-back who provides width and crosses, but rather a defensive-minded player who provides security and tactical discipline.

His experience in three different European leagues—Belgium, Italy, and England—means he understands various tactical approaches and should adapt quickly to the Eredivisie’s demands. The Dutch league’s technical emphasis will suit Tomiyasu’s playing style, as he is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and progressing play through passes rather than dribbling.

The key question is durability. Ajax’s medical staff will work closely with Tomiyasu to manage his workload and minimize injury risk. The performance-based contract structure suggests both parties accept that he may not be available for every match, but when fit, he should provide quality and leadership that benefits Ajax’s younger defenders.

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