Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is “leaving the club”, with his contract to set to be terminated, according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel.
The Japanese international’s current deal was due to expire next summer but the Gunners have agreed to part ways with the player early.
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Tomiyasu has been suffering with a chronic knee injury over the past year and supporters on X have expressed sympathy with the player:
What a sad end but there really was no choice. That injury grabbed him and refused to go 😞🔴❤️
— MotownGooner75 🎶 (@feliciacoltony1) July 4, 2025
A damn shame he was so injury prone
Continues an unfortunate trend of the club ending contracts more often than selling players
— Christopher Roche (@chris_roche85) July 4, 2025
I will always remember him locking up Salah
— Kkk (@Kkknibbahh) July 4, 2025
Best of luck to him
— Kingsley Ikem (@ikemefuna02) July 4, 2025
Loved having him at our club. Sad that injuries kept him off the pitch, seems like a lovely lad. Wish him the very best in all he does next.
— Joseph Magara 🇺🇬🇺🇬 (@joemagara) July 4, 2025
What prompted Arsenal to terminate the defender’s contract?
Tomiyasu only made one brief appearance last season, coming on as a substitute against Southampton back in October.
Knee problems meant the defender missed the rest of the season, and he underwent surgery to try to get back to full fitness.
However, it is believed that Tomiyasu will miss the start of the 2025/26 campaign, with Mokbel claiming the 26-year-old could be out for another 5 months.
Will a replacement for Tomiyasu be signed?
The former Bologna star will be difficult to replace due to his ability to play right across the back four. Another right-back won’t be needed with Ben White and Jurrien Timber already in the first team squad. Myles-Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori can cover on the left-hand side of defence.
From the looks of things, manager Mikel Arteta has opted to reinforce his options at centre-back instead, with the club closing in on a deal for Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera.
In other news, Arsenal and Manchester United have made fresh enquiries about signing an Aston Villa player