Ex-Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu training with Crystal Palace with view to possible move – The Athletic
Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is training with Crystal Palace with a view to a possible move this summer.
Tomiyasu, 27, is a free agent after departing Ajax following the conclusion of his contract at the end of the 2025-26 season, and is training with Palace in Como this week as part of the club’s pre-season preparations. He was named on the bench for Palace’s opening fixture in the Como Cup against RC Lens on Tuesday afternoon.
The Japan international has attracted interest from elsewhere in England and Europe as he considers his next move, but is keen to return to the Premier League. In the meantime, Palace are providing a high-level training environment for Tomiyasu to maintain and improve his fitness and readiness for the new season.
Tomiyasu departed Arsenal in July 2025 after a mutual agreement was reached to terminate his contract one year early. He had not featured for the club since October 2024 and underwent knee surgery in February 2025.
He joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2021 and made 84 appearances, scoring two goals and providing six assists, but his final seasons in north London were disrupted by injury.
Tomiyasu moved to Ajax in December on a six-month contract and featured nine times for the Dutch club during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.
He earned a recall to the Japan squad for the 2026 World Cup and played three times at the tournament as they exited to Brazil in the last 32.
The XI to face RC Lens in the Como Cup.
Watch LIVE on Palace TV+ ⬇️
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 28, 2026
Palace are playing two 45-minute games in the Como Cup on Tuesday, against the French club Lens and Portuguese side Famalicao.
Palace are set to lose centre-back Maxence Lacroix this summer, after The Athletic reported on Thursday Chelsea were in the process of finalising a deal in the region of £52million ($69.2m) for the France international.
The UEFA Conference League winners are looking at potential replacement options for Lacroix, including Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima. Trabzonspor’s Chibuike Nwaiwu is an alternative candidate if a deal cannot be struck for Matsima.
