Arsenal Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu reached a mutual agreement with the club to end his contract earlier this month after struggling with injury last season
Takehiro Tomiyasu has opened the circumstances behind his early exit from Arsenal after he has agreed to leave the club 12 months before the end of his contract.
Earlier this month it was announced that the Japanese defender, 26, would leave the Gunners as a free agent after reaching a mutual agreement with the club to leave his contract early. Tomiyasu was contracted until the summer of 2026.
Tomiyasu quickly settled as an important player under Mikel Arteta after he came to the club in 2021.
But the right back was plagued by injuries during his time as a shooter and was limited to only six minutes of action during the 2024-25 campaign.
Tomiyasu explained the process behind his exit of Arsenal, Dazn Japan told Japan, via De Standaard: “It was not a sudden decision to leave. First of all, I want to make it clear that my contract was terminated unilaterally and I did not say unilaterally:” I leave. “
“We had a good discussion and came to the conclusion that:” This decision is the best for me, for the club and for everyone. “So I leave. It all ended amicably.
“From my perspective it is the best timing. I will be free, and especially, the most positive thing about this decision is that it will enable me to concentrate on my rehabilitation and on myself.
“I was there for four years, but I only played five minutes in the 2024-25 season, and I spent a whole year in rehabilitation. I was under a lot of stress and fear. To be honest, I no longer had the feeling that I was there, and I wondered:” Is this where my future is? “
Tomiyasu is expected to be set aside in February until the end of the year after undergoing knee operation. He further revealed that the dressing room of Arsenal was 'surprised' to hear that he would leave the club this summer, given his contract status.
He added: “After I decided to leave, I said goodbye to the players, coaches and staff. I went to the dressing room or staff room one by one and said,” I leave. “
“Like I said, my farewell to everyone, I was reminded that I was loved, and that was when I could leave.
“I think that was a good thing. The players were also surprised because I still had time left on my contract and I was injured.”