Takehiro Tomiyasu Explains His Departure from Arsenal Following Contract Termination

Takehiro Tomiyasu has shared insights into his recent departure from Arsenal, after mutually agreeing to end his contract. The Japanese defender parted ways with the club on July 4, having spent four years there.

During his time with the Gunners, Tomiyasu faced persistent injury problems, which limited his appearances. Last season, he only played once, in a match against Southampton. After undergoing knee surgery in February, he remained sidelined, making his departure somewhat unusual while still injured.

Tomiyasu expressed that leaving the club has eased his anxiety. In an interview, he clarified that his exit was not abrupt or unilateral. He explained, “It wasn’t a sudden decision to leave. I was there for four years, but in the 2024-25 season, I only played five minutes and spent an entire year recovering.”

He mentioned feeling significant stress and questioning his future at Arsenal. The defender also said that bidding farewell to teammates and staff helped him find closure, recalling, “I said my goodbyes to each of them, and I was reminded that I was loved. That made it easier for me to leave.”

Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2021 and made 84 appearances, scoring twice. He has also been capped 42 times for Japan since his debut in 2018. Known for his versatility, he can play as a right-back, left-back, or centre-back, qualities that were valued by his former coach, Mikel Arteta.

Tomiyasu emphasized that his decision to leave was made with calm and clarity, and noted that some teammates were surprised given his injury status and remaining contract time. His departure marks the end of a challenging period marked by injury struggles and limited game time at Arsenal.