For Takehiro Tomiyasu, the dream move to Arsenal quickly became a battle against his own body.
Now back in the Netherlands with AFC Ajax, the Japan international has spoken honestly about the injury setbacks that shaped his time in north London and the frustration of never being able to build the career he imagined there.
Speaking to Ajax Life, via Ajax Showtime, the 27-year-old reflected on four difficult seasons at Arsenal, where fitness problems consistently interrupted his progress.
It is a story many Arsenal fans will remember well. Tomiyasu looked like an immediate solution when he arrived, but availability became the biggest issue.
Arsenal career never found rhythm because of injuries
Tomiyasu’s start at Arsenal could hardly have gone much better.
He settled quickly, adapted to the Premier League with ease and became a trusted option under Mikel Arteta.
But the momentum never held.
Recurring calf and knee injuries repeatedly stopped him from building consistency, and over time that turned into a pattern rather than bad luck.
The defender admits even now it is difficult to understand.
“I could never have imagined that I would be hit so hard at Arsenal, because I am actually very careful with my body.” — Takehiro Tomiyasu, via Ajax Life
That is what made it harder.
For a player known for discipline and professionalism, the constant setbacks felt unfair rather than avoidable.
Tomiyasu also revealed how different the reality became from the vision he had when he first arrived.
“The first six months in London were fantastic. I was living the dream.” — Takehiro Tomiyasu
Yet across four seasons, his appearances remained limited, far below what he expected.
In his own words, it was not the Arsenal memory he wanted to leave behind.
Fresh start at Ajax after Arsenal exit
Last summer, Arsenal and Tomiyasu agreed to part ways, ending a difficult chapter that never fully delivered on its early promise.
After five months without a club, Ajax offered him the chance to reset.
Since returning to Amsterdam in December, Tomiyasu has made seven appearances across all competitions. The minutes have been limited, but the bigger focus now is physical stability rather than immediate impact.
Based on recent matches we’ve covered involving Ajax, there has been a clear effort to manage his workload carefully.
That feels deliberate.
After everything that happened at Arsenal, rushing him back would make little sense.
Tomiyasu explains how his mindset changed
What stands out most from his latest interview is not frustration, but acceptance.
There is no bitterness. More a recognition that football careers do not always follow the script.
Tomiyasu explained how long periods on the sidelines changed the way he thinks about setbacks.
“If you give up, it’s over. So, you just don’t stop.” — Takehiro Tomiyasu
That mentality has kept him moving.
Away from the pitch, he focused on the gym, recovery and staying connected to family and friends, using that time to stay grounded while waiting for his body to cooperate again.
However, it remains too early to know whether Ajax will see the best version of him.
Fitness has always been the deciding factor.
Key insights
- Takehiro Tomiyasu has opened up on his difficult Arsenal spell
- Injuries heavily disrupted his four years at the Emirates
- The defender admits his Arsenal career did not go as planned
- Ajax signed him after five months as a free agent
- His focus now is on staying fit and rebuilding momentum
What’s next for Tomiyasu at Ajax?
Ajax are expected to continue easing Tomiyasu back into regular football across the final weeks of the season, with his workload likely to increase gradually.
The priority is simple: consistency.
If he can put together an uninterrupted run of games, there is still time for him to rebuild both confidence and rhythm before the 2026/27 campaign begins.
For Ajax, a fully fit Tomiyasu would feel like a major addition.
For the player himself, it might finally be the fresh chapter he has been chasing.
Can Tomiyasu finally leave the injury frustration behind and rediscover the level Arsenal first saw in him?
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