Takehiro Tomiyasu completes move to Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer, following a successful trial period at Selhurst Park.

The 27-year-old becomes Pierre Sage’s second signing of the summer, following the earlier arrival of Óscar Mingueza, as Palace continue to rebuild their defensive options after Maxence Lacroix’s move to Chelsea. The club have not confirmed the length of Tomiyasu’s contract.

Tomiyasu first appeared in a Palace shirt as an unused substitute in the club’s Como Cup defeat to RC Lens in late July, before making his first appearance for the Eagles as a 30-minute substitute against Al-Ula. That trial spell, along with a completed medical in London, was enough to convince the club to proceed with a permanent deal.

Versatile across the back line, Tomiyasu can play at right-back, left-back or centre-back, and arrives with four seasons of Premier League experience from his time at Arsenal, where he made 84 appearances between 2021 and 2025 after joining from Bologna. He began his European career at Belgian side Sint-Truiden. His Arsenal contract was terminated by mutual agreement in July 2025, after his final two seasons in north London were disrupted by a series of knee injuries.

He spent the second half of last season on a short-term deal at Ajax, making nine appearances for the Dutch club, before being named in Japan’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, where he started twice in three appearances. At international level, Tomiyasu has now won 46 caps for his country. He will wear the number 17 shirt at Palace.

Chairman Steve Parish told the club’s official website: “Takehiro has experience at the highest level of European and international football. We are delighted to welcome a player of his calibre to the club and believe he will prove to be a great addition to the squad.”

Tomiyasu added: “I’m excited to get started. This club is in a good moment, winning three titles in two seasons. Here is where I wanted to be.” Those three trophies, the FA Cup, the Conference League and the Community Shield, arrived under Sage’s predecessor Olivier Glasner, who left the club this summer after delivering the first major honours in Palace’s history.

Speaking to Palace TV in his first interview as a Palace player, Tomiyasu said he had already begun settling in during pre-season training. “I’ve already trained with the team for more than one week, so I’m already settling in well,” he said. “I wanted to be in a competitive environment, so this is where I wanted to be.”

He also spoke about the intensity of pre-season under Sage, describing the sessions as tough but necessary preparation for the Premier League, which he called “the most intense league in the world,” adding that he wants to “win something” during his time at the club.