Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu (冨安 健洋, Tomiyasu Takehiro; born 5 November 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Japan national team. Mainly a full back, he can also be deployed as a centre-back.

Beginning his career at Avispa Fukuoka, Tomiyasu had a spell with Belgian club Sint-Truiden and Italian club Bologna before joining Arsenal in 2021 for a reported fee of up to £17m.

Having previously played for various youth levels, Tomiyasu received a call-up for Japan's senior team in 2018. He featured for the side that reached the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, and also played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup.

Club career

Avispa Fukuoka

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Tomiyasu enrolled at Sanchiku Elementary School, and during the second half of his first grade, he joined the school’s football club, Sanchiku Kickers, where he initially played as a defensive midfielder. He was scouted by the club’s general manager, Kanji Tsuji, who was impressed by his performance, particularly his speed, and encouraged his parents to support his football development.

In 2009, when he was eleven years old and in the fifth grade, Tomiyasu began attending the newly established FC Barcelona Academy in Fukuoka, training there twice a week. At the academy, he played as a defensive midfielder. Although there were discussions about the possibility of joining FC Barcelona’s youth setup in Spain, the move did not materialize.