Martin Odegaard sends farewell message as Arsenal exit confirmed
Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu shared an emotional farewell with supporters as uncertainty over his future at the club finally appears to be resolved.
The Japan international has struggled with injuries throughout his time at the Emirates since arriving from Serie A club Bologna in 2021.
Tomiyasu managed just one appearance last season due to persistent knee issues, with his final outing coming back in October against Southampton in the Premier League.
In February, it was confirmed that Tomiyasu would miss the remainder of the season, adding to Arsenal’s defensive injury problems.
With just one year left on his contract this summer, both club and player have now seemingly reached a mutual agreement regarding his future, bringing an end to his injury-disrupted spell in North London.
| Season | Days missed | Games missed |
| 2024/25 | 435 | 57 |
| 2023/24 | 73 | 13 |
| 2022/23 | 121 | 20 |
Arsenal terminate Takehiro Tomiyasu contract amid defender injury struggles
It was announced on 4 July that Tomiyasu will be leaving Arsenal with immediate effect, after the club and player agreed to cancel his contract one year early.
The versatile defender has since addressed supporters with a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking Mikel Arteta, the coaching staff and the fans for their support.
Despite the early departure, he said it’s “time for a new chapter” but insisted he is “forever proud to have been a Gunner”.
His farewell message prompted an outpouring of support from current and former teammates. Declan Rice commented “Good luck Tomi”, while Jurrien Timber responded with a heart emoji.
Other players also showed their appreciation by liking the post, including club captain Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate.
Tomiyasu made 84 appearances for Arsenal across four years, scoring twice and providing six assists.
However, his time in North London has been heavily disrupted by injuries. The Japan international missed 13 matches during the 2023/24 campaign and was sidelined for 57 matches the season prior.
Arsenal set to sign Christhian Mosquera as Tomiyasu replacement
The club appear to be moving swiftly to replace Tomiyasu, with Arsenal reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Valencia defender Christhian Mosquera.
The 21-year-old has just one year remaining on his contract at the Mestalla and is believed to have already agreed personal terms with the Gunners.
Mosquera featured 37 times in La Liga last season and is seen as a versatile option capable of playing both centre-back and right-back, both positions previously covered by Tomiyasu