Ex-Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu training with Premier League side after playing just nine games with Ajax

Ex-Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is training with Crystal Palace after becoming a free agent, talkSPORT understands.

The Japan international is currently without a club, having left Ajax following the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2025/26.

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Tomiyasu joined Ajax in December after mutually agreeing to end his contract with Arsenal last summer.

The 28-year-old signed for the Dutch giants whilst still recovering from a long-term knee injury that had kept him out of action for almost a year prior.

But having only penned a six-month deal until the end of the season, Tomiyasu ultimately departed having made just nine appearances.

Now, after making three appearances for Japan in their run to the last-32 of the 2026 World Cup, he has begun pre-season despite not yet having found a new club.

An Eagle has landed?

Tomiyasu has joined up with with Crystal Palace this week as they get their season’s preparations underway in Como, Italy.

While reports claim that the full-back is targeting a return to the Premier League, talkSPORT understands any talk of him joining the Eagles is premature.

With a number of Palace’s first-team stars yet to report back for training after the World Cup, they have offered Tomiyasu a place to train and work on his fitness ahead of the new season.

This is understood to have been facilitated by his friendship with Palace midfielder and fellow Japan international, Daichi Kamada.

According to the Athletic, Tomiyasu could feature for the Premier League side in a friendly later this week.

But talkSPORT understands no discussions have been held over the ex-Gunners star joining the club, while he continues to attract interest from elsewhere in England and Europe.

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Crystal Palace are currently gearing up for their first season under new boss Pierre Sage, who was named as Oliver Glasner’s successor in June.

They are in the market for a new defender as key man Maxence Lacroix looks set to join Chelsea in a deal worth £55m.

talkSPORT understands Palace are considering Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima as a potential replacement, while Tomiyasu himself is capable of playing at centre-back.

Fresh start

Tomiyasu is looking to get his career back on track after seeing his last few seasons blighted by injury.

He departed Arsenal in July 2025 following the mutual decision to terminate his contract a year early, and had not featured for the club since the previous October.

The Japan star had missed the start of the 2024/25 season due to a previous knee injury that needed surgery in 2023.

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But another knee issue saw him go under the knife again in January 2025, ultimately leading to his early departure from north London.

Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Serie A side Bologna in a deal rising to £20million in 2021, and featured 84 times overall, scoring two goals and providing two assists.

After joining Ajax in December last year, he made his debut in January, but only eight further appearances followed.

The ex-Premier League star ultimately played only 236 minutes of football, failing to earn a new contract as the Amsterdam outfit finished a disappointing fifth in the Eredivisie.

Following his departure, Tomiyasu penned an emotional statement, where he shared his sadness at not having played a bigger role.

He wrote on Instagram: “It was only five months but I would like to thank all who support Ajax.

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“Obviously it was not the season we wanted and no one is satisfied with how it ended.

“Personally, I joined this club in January after such a long rehab, I wanted to give much more, I should have done much more for this club but it didn’t work out well.”