Former Arsenal defender opens up after termination of his contract | OneFootball

Takehiro Tomiyasu has admitted the emotional turmoil that came with ending his four-year spell at Arsenal following the termination of his contract.

The Japan international agreed to a mutual terminational after lengthy discussions with the club, as more injuries problem continued to plague the defender’s recent Arsenal career.

The 26-year-old has been dealing with a knee cartilage problem which first surfaced back in March 2023, and despite returning a year later, Tomiyasu was restricted to just five minutes of first-team football last season before opting for surgery.

With two years remaining on his deal, it was expected he would continue his rehabilitation at Arsenal, with a full return scheduled for the end of the year.

However, Tomiyasu will now continue his recovery alone, revealing he’s now working with the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences.

“It wasn’t a sudden decision to leave,” he told DAZN Japan.

“First, I want to make it clear that this wasn’t a one-sided contract termination, nor did I suddenly say ‘I want to leave.’ It was a decision made after thorough discussions with the club.

“We concluded that, ‘this is the best outcome for me, the club, and everyone involved.’ That’s why I left early — it was a peaceful departure, a mutual closure.”

He continued: “I was at Arsenal for four years, but in the 2024–25 season, I only played five minutes. I spent the entire year in rehabilitation.

“During that time, I was under a lot of pressure and uncertainty. Honestly, my heart wasn’t really in it anymore. I started asking myself, ‘Do I really have a future here?’

“With all those factors [yes, I was thinking about leaving], I definitely had that thought.

“Once I had decided to leave, I went around saying goodbye to my teammates, coaches, and staff. I walked into the locker room, the staff offices, and told each person, ‘I’m leaving.’

“Through this process, I truly felt again that I was really loved by everyone here. That made me very happy. My teammates were surprised too, since I still had a contract, and I was still recovering from injury.”

Tomiyasu also sent a heartfelt message to the Arsenal supporters: “Your support gave me strength. Whether in London or Japan, I always felt your encouragement. Being able to play as an Arsenal player made me very happy.

“I’m proud of my four years at the club. From now on, I’ll support the team as a Gooner alongside all of you.”