Takehiro Tomiyasu says his decision to leave Arsenal was “for the best” and has confirmed the contract termination followed lengthy discussions with the club.
Plagued by a knee cartilage problem that first surfaced in March 2023 and returned a year later, the Japan international was limited to just five minutes of first-team football last season before opting to undergo surgery.
With two years left on the contract he signed in March 2024, it was widely assumed he would continue his rehabilitation at London Colney, aiming to regain full fitness by Christmas.
However, he’s instead taken the unusual step of going it alone, revealing he’s now working with the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences. While he declined to comment on the medical advice provided by Arsenal, it’s clear he was left uncertain about how best to handle the recurring issue.
“It wasn’t a sudden decision to leave,” he told DAZN Japan (translation by Reddit user SpaceMajorTom).
“First, I want to make it clear that this wasn’t a one-sided contract termination, nor did I suddenly say ‘I want to leave.’ It was a decision made after thorough discussions with the club.
“We concluded that, ‘this is the best outcome for me, the club, and everyone involved.’ That’s why I left early — it was a peaceful departure, a mutual closure.”
He continued: “I was at Arsenal for four years, but in the 2024–25 season, I only played five minutes. I spent the entire year in rehabilitation.
“During that time, I was under a lot of pressure and uncertainty. Honestly, my heart wasn’t really in it anymore. I started asking myself, ‘Do I really have a future here?’
“With all those factors [yes, I was thinking about leaving], I definitely had that thought.
“Once I had decided to leave, I went around saying goodbye to my teammates, coaches, and staff. I walked into the locker room, the staff offices, and told each person, ‘I’m leaving.’
“Through this process, I truly felt again that I was really loved by everyone here. That made me very happy. My teammates were surprised too, since I still had a contract, and I was still recovering from injury.”
Looking ahead, Tomiyasu now needs to find a new club and prove his fitness if he’s to earn a place in Japan’s squad for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico.
“For me, this was the best timing. Becoming a free agent allows me to focus on rehab and myself,” he said. “That’s the most positive and meaningful part of this decision.”
On the injury itself, he added: “It’s the cartilage in my knee. Initially, it was the medial collateral ligament.
“There are all kinds of people helping with treatment, but I never really knew which method was the right one.
“I’ve been to JISS (Japan Institute of Sports Sciences), and I’ve gathered people around me in Japan whom I trust so I can focus on my recovery.”
He also shared a heartfelt message for Arsenal supporters: “Your support gave me strength. Whether in London or Japan, I always felt your encouragement. Being able to play as an Arsenal player made me very happy.
“I’m proud of my four years at the club. From now on, I’ll support the team as a Gooner alongside all of you.”
As we’ve said before, we were very sad to see Tomi go. We hope he gets back to full fitness before too long because on his day, he was a fantastic player who absolutely deserves to play at the highest level.