Takehiro Tomiyasu

Born on November 5, 1998, in Fukuoka, Japan, Takehiro Tomiyasu began his football journey at Sanchiku Kickers before joining the FC Barcelona Academy in Fukuoka. He later progressed through the youth ranks of Avispa Fukuoka, where he was noted for his speed and leadership, even captaining their youth team. He made his senior debut for Avispa Fukuoka in 2015 and quickly established himself, primarily as a defensive midfielder before transitioning to center-back. His consistent performances in the J2 League led to interest from European clubs, marking an early turning point in his career.

In 2018, Tomiyasu moved to Belgian side Sint-Truiden, where he rapidly adapted to European football and earned the club’s Player of the Season award. This success led to a transfer to Italian Serie A club Bologna in 2019 for a reported €9 million. At Bologna, he demonstrated his versatility by excelling as a right-back, center-back, and occasionally a left-back, drawing praise from Italian media and former players. His strong showings in Italy attracted the attention of Premier League clubs.

Tomiyasu joined Arsenal in August 2021 for a fee reported to be between £15.5 million and £17 million. He quickly became a first-choice right-back and a fan favorite, earning Arsenal’s Player of the Month award in September 2021 and again in October 2023. He has consistently represented Japan since 2018, participating in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup (where Japan were runners-up), the 2020 Olympics, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His career at Arsenal saw him sign a new contract until 2026 before a mutual agreement to terminate it in July 2025 due to ongoing injury issues.