Player profile: Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu making his first appearance at the Emirates on Saturday

Player profile: Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu made his Arsenal debut last Saturday against Norwich after his £16 million move to the Emirates from Bologna.

It was an impressive performance from the 22-year-old, who is a bit of an unknown entity, having risen rapidly from Japan’s top division to the Premier League.

The versatile defender can play at both centre-back and right-back, has pace, a physical presence at 6ft 2, and has already got a significant number of games under his belt at such a young age.

If his move to the Gunners proves successful, it could be a sign that Arsenal’s transfer strategy is moving in a better and far more exciting direction.

If it fails, it could suggest that Arsenal may have another highly paid player on their books with very little sell-on value.

Tomiyasu’s Early Days

Tomiyasu was scouted by Barcelona as a child and impressed on trial, but he had difficulties relocating to Spain and ended up signing for Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka.

He made his league debut for the club in July 2016 after impressing in their youth ranks.

Tomiyasu became a first-team regular in 2017, making 45 appearances for the club, scoring one goal, and representing Japan at youth level.

He impressed enough to force a move to Europe, joining Belgian First Division A side Sint-Truidense on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

He impressed on his debut in a 0-0 draw against Cercle Brugge, the opening game of the 2018-19 season, and immediately started being recognised as a top talent.

During his one full season at the club, he made 27 appearances, scoring one goal.

It was also in 2018 that Tomiyasu began to make his mark on the international stage, making his debut in a 3-0 win against Panama.

Making an impression in Italy

After impressing in Belgium, Tomiyasu made a €9 million move to Italy with Bologna, where he once again stepped up to the plate.

Italian papers described him as a ‘treasure’, journalists and pundits praised his commitment and work ethic, all while he built a reputation as an incredibly versatile player in Serie A.

He made the right-back position his own in Italy, making 29 league appearances in his first season while scoring one goal and adding to his number of appearances for the national team.

Despite suffering a season-ending injury at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, he continued to be praised by fans and commentators alike.

He was being spoken about as a long-term option at centre-back after a strong debut campaign, and after recovering from the injury, he regained his position in the team, this time playing at centre-back.

He made 31 appearances in the league during the 2020-21 season, impressing throughout and forcing yet another big move to Arsenal this summer.

What can he offer moving forward?

Tomiyasu, who has now made 24 appearances for Japan, looks likely to be Arsenal’s first-choice right-back this season following the departure of Héctor Bellerín to Spanish side Real Betis.

He appears to be an excellent passer of the ball and generally a well-balanced footballer without any glaring flaws.

Arsenal’s defence hasn’t been consistent enough for over a decade, so perhaps it will prove a wise move to go for a right-back who is as happy and competent a defender as he is an attacker.

If he succeeds in North London, the 22-year-old could be a key figure in the Arsenal squad for a decade or more.

Photo credit: Getty Images

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