Former Arsenal defender Tomiyasu finalises short-term switch to Ajax

Ajax have reached an agreement with Takehiro Tomiyasu on a short-term deal,

The former Arsenal player is due to undergo a medical on Tuesday, with the move expected to be finalised swiftly if no issues arise.

Tomiyasu has been a free agent since the summer, following a mutual agreement with Arsenal to terminate his contract a year early.

The decision followed increased competition in defence due to the arrivals of Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera, which limited his pathway back into the first team.

The 27-year-old is set to begin a new chapter in Amsterdam as he looks to rebuild momentum after a disrupted year.

The Japan international has spent the past few months completing a rehabilitation programme following knee surgery in February.

He has since returned to training and is considered ready to resume competitive football.

Ajax moved quickly to sign him as they look to bolster their defensive options for the second half of the season.

The agreement only runs until the end of the season and does not include an option to extend.

That structure reflects both the player’s recent injury history and Ajax’s desire for short-term flexibility.

Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2021 and went on to make 84 appearances in all competitions.

His versatility allowed him to feature across the back line, most frequently at right-back and centre-back.

He was a regular presence when fit but struggled for consistency due to recurring fitness issues.

His final appearance for Arsenal came in October 2024 in a 3-1 Premier League win over Southampton.

Since then, his focus has been on recovery and finding the right environment to restart his career.

Ajax currently sit third in the Eredivisie and are aiming to stabilise their season after an uneven campaign.

The move offers Tomiyasu an opportunity to regain sharpness and put himself back in contention at club and international level.