The 27-year-old Takehiro Tomiyasu signed a six-month contract in Amsterdam on Tuesday after having played just one game since May 2024 due to injuries. The Japanese defender had his Arsenal contract terminated with mutual agreement in July, after which he focused on getting fit in Japan.
Speaking to Ajax TV, Tomiyasu expressed his gratitude to the club and the people who stood by him.
"I feel very excited, and I'm delighted to be here," said Tomiyasu.
"First of all, I would like to thank everyone who was around me. Obviously, I've been out for about 12 months, and it was a tough period for me. If they weren't around me, I wouldn't be here today. It was the toughest period, for sure. But I never gave up, and I worked very hard."
Tomiyasu suffered a severe knee injury ahead of the 2024/25 season, during which he only played one game for Arsenal (against Southampton in October 2024). The Japanese full-back required additional surgery in February, after which he didn't play a minute for the Gunners anymore.
A new start in Amsterdam is just what he needed, Tomiyasu said.
"For sure. I've been out for twelve months, and it's like a fresh restart for me. When I spoke with the people from Ajax, I could feel that they believed in my ability and qualities."
Tomiyasu joins Ajax in the middle of a tumultuous time. Manager Johnny Heitinga was fired in November after just four months at the club, after which technical director Alex Kroes announced his imminent departure.
A bad string of results left Ajax 14 points adrift from the top spot in the Eredivisie and in the bottom five of the UEFA Champions League. The dire situation did not put Tomiyasu off, however: "I know the situation of the club. We have a lot of young players and are struggling a little at the moment, but I think we still have a chance to win the league."
The 42-time Japanese international spoke to Arsenal team-mate Jurrien Timber before joining Ajax. "I've asked him about Ajax, about the club and the city. He only had good things to say about the club," Tomiyasu revealed.
Friendship and experience
The 27-year-old Tomiyasu will join Ajax as one of the more senior players in the squad. Caretaker manager Fred Grim fielded a side with an average age of 23 years in the UEFA Champions League meeting with Qarabag. Will Tomiyasu use his experience in Amsterdam?
"I used to pay for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the best club at this moment. I gained a lot of experience there, so I will try to be a great example for the young players, especially on the pitch, but also off it."
The only Ajax defender older than him is Ko Itakura, one of Tomiyasu's closest friends and the only other Japanese player in Ajax's history.
"It's always good to have one of your closest friends at the same club," Tomiyasu said.
"I've been playing with him since I was 16, so I know him very well and what he wants to do on the pitch. It's great to have him."
After joining the club, director of football Marijn Beuker described Tomiyasu as an excellent, intelligent, two-footed defender. While it's been known that the club were looking for reinforcements for the full-back spots, no specific position for Tomiyasu was mentioned. Does he have a preference for a specific position?
"I'm able to play everywhere in the back line, also on the full-back spots. One thing I promise the fans is that I will give everything. I will give 100% for the team when I'm on the pitch. It doesn't matter which position I play."
Despite being out of the game for over twelve months, Tomiyasu is confident in his abilities and has one very clear goal in Amsterdam.
"I know how much I worked. I've been working very hard to come back stronger. I feel I'm ready to be back. Obviously, I will need some weeks to get back to playing, but I feel very good, and I'm ready.
"I want to win something with Ajax. I've never won anything - it's about time. If I could win something with Ajax, it would be perfect."