Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to leave the club, with both parties agreeing to an early termination of his contract.
The Japanese international joined Arsenal in 2021 and played just six minutes of football in the 2024/25 season after undergoing knee surgery last summer.
According to Sami Mokbel of the BBC, the player and Arsenal have reached a settlement to that will see Tomiyasu’s contract end one year early as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
Tomiyasu’s time at Arsenal has been dogged by injuries, with the defender a regular starter in his first half season in north London before a series of muscle and knee issues limited his involvement. The defender made 20 Premier League starts in his debut campaign in north London, but has made just 16 in the three seasons since.
In the meantime, Arsenal have added Jurrien Timber at right-back and various players at left-back.
Tomiyasu’s final start for the club saw him score an equaliser in the 2-1 win over Everton on the final day of the 2023/24 season. In total he has made 84 first team appearances, scoring twice.
The 26-year-old’s hard-working demeanour and rugged, physical, straightforward defending quickly made him a fan favourite as Mikel Arteta looked to rebuild a struggling Arsenal side. After a rough few years, hopefully he can regain full fitness and hit the ground running with a fresh start elsewhere.