Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is training with Crystal Palace as he weighs up his next career move following his departure from Ajax. The Japan international is a free agent, gaining fitness in pre-season while attracting strong interest from clubs across England and Europe.
Crystal Palace has stepped in to offer a high-level training environment to Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is currently evaluating his options after his short-term contract with Dutch club Ajax concluded at the end of the 2025-26 season. The 27-year-old utility defender was named on the bench for Palace’s pre-season games in the Como Cup against French side RC Lens and Portuguese club Famalicao, giving the coaching staff an immediate opportunity to assess his fitness and quality.
While clubs in Europe have registered interest in the versatile defender, Tomiyasu is keen to return to the Premier League. The player is not contracted to any side, allowing him to train with whoever he wants during his search for a permanent home.
Injury Struggles and the Road Back to Peak Fitness
Tomiyasu’s path back to Selhurst Park follows a turbulent period with injuries. After signing for Arsenal from Bologna in 2021, he established himself as a reliable utility option across the backline, making 84 appearances for the north London club. However, a knee injury sustained in March 2023 derailed his momentum, setting off a sequence of fitness setbacks that severely limited his playing time.
He featured for just five minutes during the 2024-25 season before undergoing knee surgery in February 2025. That summer, Tomiyasu and Arsenal reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract one year early, allowing him to rehabilitate away from London Colney. Although he admitted his heart wasn’t really in it
during the toughest phases of his recovery, the parting was entirely amicable. “I’ll support the team as a Gooner alongside all of you,” Tomiyasu said after his departure, describing his exit as peaceful.
Following his recovery, Tomiyasu signed a short-term deal with Ajax in December, making nine appearances during the second half of the Eredivisie campaign. That brief stint helped him earn a recall to the Japan squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he featured in three matches before his nation exited the tournament against Brazil in the last 32.
Transfer Context and Defensive Shuffling at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace’s pursuit of defensive reinforcement comes at a crucial juncture for the Eagles. The club is set to lose centre-back Maxence Lacroix this summer, with Chelsea closing in on a deal in the region of £52million ($69.2m) for the French international. Palace have consequently lined up potential defensive targets, including Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima and Trabzonspor’s Chibuike Nwaiwu, as they plan for life after Lacroix.
Securing Tomiyasu on a free transfer would provide manager Oliver Glasner with proven Premier League experience and defensive versatility. Capable of playing across the backline at right-back, centre-back, or left-back, the Japan international represents a low-risk, high-reward acquisition if he can prove his physical readiness during his trial.
What Comes Next in the Pre-Season Trial
Palace’s coaching staff will use the remainder of their pre-season preparations to evaluate whether Tomiyasu’s fitness levels meet the demands of the Premier League. While Scottish side Rangers have also monitored the defender’s situation amid their own backline overhaul, Palace are exceptionally well-placed to finalize a permanent deal if the trial yields a positive assessment over the coming days.
