[Player Close-Up #21] TOMIYASU Takehiro | The Versatile but Battle-Scarred Defender — From His Ajax Revival to Group F
A deep dive into TOMIYASU Takehiro (27, born in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), who has left Arsenal and is seeking a comeback at AFC Ajax. Can this multi-role defender — capable of playing CB, right back, and left back at a high level — make it to the World Cup Group F stage after three years plagued by recurring shoulder, knee, and hamstring injuries?
Takehiro Tomiyasu, 27. In July 2025, he and Arsenal mutually terminated his contract; after six months without a club, he signed a six-month deal with Ajax Amsterdam (No. 32) on December 16. In a bid to reclaim his footing, he made his first club competitive start in approximately 664 days in the March 14 match against Sparta, only to withdraw from the April England tour in late March due to a minor hamstring injury. With WC 2026 now just two months away, here is a look at the expectations resting on his shoulders—and the challenges he must overcome.
menu_book Basic Profile
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 5, 1998 (27 years old) |
| Place of Origin | Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Height / Weight | 188 cm / 84 kg |
| Position | DF (CB / Right SB / Left SB; versatile multi-role defender who can also play defensive MF) |
| Dominant Foot | Right (two-footed at a high level) |
| Current Club | Ajax Amsterdam (Eredivisie / Netherlands) |
| Jersey Number | Club: 32 / National Team: 16 |
| Japan National Team | Senior debut in 2018; 42 caps, 1 goal. Contributed to victories over Germany and Spain at the 2022 Qatar World Cup |
arrow_forward Getting to Know His Hometown
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a football hub with a strong development foundation centered on Avispa Fukuoka, and it has a deeply rooted international youth tournament culture through competitions such as the Sanix Cup Youth Soccer Tournament. The "Barcelona School Fukuoka" (opened in 2009) that Tomiyasu attended as a primary school student is one of the few domestic facilities to import FC Barcelona's methodology directly, providing fertile ground for developing midfield technique.
Avispa Fukuoka U-15/U-18, meanwhile, has long been known for a "defence-first" philosophy, drilling players relentlessly in one-on-one intensity and reading of the game. Tomiyasu served as captain in all three years of junior youth, simultaneously developing leadership and quality in the tackle. Hakata, a city nestled between the sea and the mountains, offers abundant options for outdoor activity, and its year-round training-friendly climate is part of the backdrop that shaped him into a technically refined defender. His performance on the World Cup stage will be a source of pride for the city of Fukuoka.
calendar_month Career Timeline by Age
| Age | Period | Club / Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Primary school | – 2010 | Sanchiku Kickers → Barcelona School Fukuoka. Selected for the national training centre at age 11 |
| 13–15 | 2011–2013 | Avispa Fukuoka U-15. Captain in all three junior high school years |
| 16–17 | 2014–2015 | Avispa Fukuoka U-18 |
| 17 | From May 2015 | Registered with the first team as a Category 2 player. Official debut in October |
| 17–19 | 2016–2017 | Avispa Fukuoka (J2). The club's first-ever high school J.League player |
| 19 | From January 2018 | Sint-Truiden VV (Belgian First Division) |
| 20 | From July 2019 | Bologna FC (Serie A). Reputation rose through deployment as right SB |
| 22–26 | August 2021 – July 2025 | Arsenal FC (Premier League). 84 competitive appearances, 2 goals |
| 26–27 | July – December 2025 | Unattached (focused on rehabilitation) |
| 27– | December 16, 2025 – present | Ajax Amsterdam (six-month contract through June 2026, No. 32) |
local_fire_department 2025/26 Season — First Competitive Start in Approximately 664 Days
He signed a six-month contract with Ajax in December 2025. After joining the squad on January 2, he made his competitive return after 484 days against Excelsior on February 1. Then, on March 14 against Sparta Rotterdam, he made his first competitive start in approximately 664 days. He played until the 69th minute, and in the 32nd minute he dribbled past two opposing defenders before delivering a cross that set up Berghuis's goal. Sofascore recorded him winning 3 of 5 ground duels and 1 of 1 aerial duels, showing a solid performance.
However, he picked up a minor hamstring injury in late March and early April, withdrawing from the national team's April tour (England / Scotland). With just six weeks remaining until the World Cup, regaining fitness and match sharpness is a matter of urgency.
| Season | Club | Competitive Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | Arsenal | approx. 25 |
| 23/24 | Arsenal | approx. 29 (knee injury late in the season) |
| 24/25 | Arsenal | 1 (right knee surgery on February 19) |
| 25/26 | Ajax | Mainly substitute appearances |
sports_soccer International Career — From the Architect of Wins Over Germany and Spain to 21 Months Away
Tomiyasu made his senior international debut against Panama in October 2018. He has accumulated 42 caps and 1 goal for the senior national team.
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he participated despite a hamstring injury sustained before the tournament. Against Germany, he was introduced at half-time on the left of a back three, and his combination play with left wing-back Mitoma helped create the equaliser, making him a key figure in the comeback victory. Against Spain, he came on as right wing-back and completely nullified Ansu Fati and Jordi Alba.
Since the Asian Cup in January 2024, calf and knee problems have kept him away from the national team for approximately 21 months. He was recalled for Japan's March 2026 squad for the England tour, but did not participate in the Kirin Challenge due to his club injury. Manager Hajime Moriyasu has expressed confidence in his potential, stating that "it is entirely natural for him to be part of our World Cup squad."
star Tomiyasu in One Phrase — "Multi-Role Versatility" and "Quality in One-on-One Defending"
There are two keywords essential to understanding Tomiyasu.
| Keyword | How It Manifests in His Game |
|---|---|
| Multi-role versatility | Performs at a high level in four or more positions — CB, right SB, left SB, left of a back three, defensive MF / Combines a 188 cm frame with wide spatial management on the flank / Adaptability to switch roles within a match |
| Quality in one-on-one defending | Sense of distance when making contact without giving away fouls / The decisive "one last step" that prevents being beaten in duels / Composure in aerial challenges combined with technical ability on the ball |
The significance of combining both qualities is clear — he is a player who can serve as a "safety net" for the entire team, broadening the range of defensive options. The fact that Tomiyasu, one of the senior figures in Moriyasu's Japan, provides such a rich array of options is a value no other defender in the squad can match.
favorite WC 2026 — The Key to Japan Breaking Out of Group F
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Tomiyasu's value lies in his ability to be deployed as insurance at CB, right SB, or left of a back three depending on the situation.
| Opponent | Attacking Characteristics | Expected Role for Tomiyasu |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Forwards with the quality of Depay and Klaassen, plus individual brilliance from Gakpo, Gravenberch and others | Man-marking the opposite winger at right SB, or forming a CB pair with Itakura in a back three |
| Sweden | The powerful strike duo of Isak and Gyökeres, combining strength and pace | Winning aerial duels from 188 cm, one-on-one defending, anchoring set-piece defence |
| Tunisia | Finished top of African qualifying, with dangerous set-piece delivery | Organising set-piece defence from 188 cm, or operating as left stopper in a back five |
live_tv Social Media & Media Presence
Tomiyasu's communication style is quiet and cool. His Instagram @tomiyasu.t open_in_new has around 930,000 followers, yet only 119 posts (as of 2026) — a reflection of his "say nothing unnecessary" stance.
His media manner is characterised by composed responses even after goals or key moments. That said, around the time of returns from injury he has been known to leave brief, resolute comments such as "Make haste slowly — just do what needs to be done", marking him as the quietly burning type.
info The Challenge to Overcome — "Chronic Injury Issues and Fitness"
Chronic injury issues and fitness — this is where Tomiyasu's greatest challenge lies. Over four years at Arsenal, injuries to his shoulder, knee, calf, and hamstring amounted to more than 850 days of absence in total, causing him to miss over 100 matches. His injuries have tended to concentrate in the second half of the season, with analysts pointing to his playing style and the accumulated effects of previous periods of heavy usage.
At 27, his remaining active years are limited, and the biggest question is how far he can restore the reliability to play a full 90 minutes in the six weeks remaining before the World Cup. His contract with Ajax runs only until June 2026, meaning he will enter the tournament with his post-World Cup future still undecided.