Tomiyasu Surfaces at Palace as Arsenal Exit Looms

Tomiyasu Trains at Palace While Medical Staff Assess His Knee

Takehiro Tomiyasu trained with Crystal Palace this week and appeared on the substitutes' bench for their pre-season friendly against Lens, though he did not take the pitch. Manager Oliver Glasner and his staff observed from the dugout. Palace are assessing the defender's fitness and availability before committing to a deal.

Since joining Arsenal from Bologna in August 2021 for approximately £16 million, the 25-year-old has made 74 appearances across all competitions. He has not played a competitive match since featuring for Japan at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. A chronic knee problem required surgery and ruled him out of Arsenal's 2023-24 Premier League title run-in. Mikel Arteta repeatedly cited Tomiyasu's absence as a factor in the squad's depth limitations during the final months of that campaign. Arsenal finished second to Manchester City by two points.

Arsenal's summer business has closed the door on a regular role for the Japan defender. The club signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42 million to compete at left-back and left-center-back. Ben White and Jurrien Timber remain ahead of Tomiyasu in the right-back pecking order.

Glasner's Back Three and the Incoming Reinforcements

Oliver Glasner arrived at Selhurst Park in February 2024 and implemented a 3-4-2-1 system. Palace conceded 0.9 goals per game under the Austrian, down from 1.6 in the first half of the season. Their late-season run included a 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa and a historic 4-0 win at Manchester United.

Tomiyasu can operate as a right-sided center-back, a left-sided center-back, or a traditional full-back. His one-on-one defending ability aligns with Glasner's demand for defensive flexibility within a back three. Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad are expected to arrive from Wolfsburg and Real Betis respectively. Tomiyasu would add 41 international caps of experience and cover multiple positions. Palace finished 10th last season and are targeting a top-half finish.

Guéhi Valuation Gap and Outgoing Sales

Palace captain Marc Guéhi remains a target for Newcastle United after the Magpies had two bids rejected. The final offer was understood to be in the region of £50 million, well short of Palace's valuation. The England international has entered the final two years of his contract, and Palace have shown no willingness to sell below £65 million.

The club has banked roughly £50 million in sales already, including Victor Akinbiye and €15m from the Sam Johnstone release. Guéhi's potential departure would leave a gap in the backline even with Tomiyasu, Lacroix, and Riad incoming.

Loan Structure, Wage Gap, and the 2026 World Cup Cycle

Any deal for Tomiyasu would likely be a loan with an obligation or a nominal fee. Arsenal need to move players who are not in Arteta's plans to balance the books for further incoming transfers. The Gunners have spent heavily on Calafiori and are pursuing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.

Tomiyasu's £120,000 weekly wage at Arsenal may be a point of negotiation, given his injury history. For the player, the move offers regular football in a World Cup cycle. Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has indicated that regular playing time is essential for squad selection ahead of the 2026 tournament.

His debut season at Arsenal featured 28 Premier League appearances and a series of composed, defensively dominant performances. The right-back role was his before injuries intervened.

Beckenham Assessments and the Ferguson Precedent

A comprehensive assessment of Tomiyasu's knee and overall fitness is underway at Palace's Beckenham training base. Glasner has been reviewing footage of Tomiyasu's last Arsenal starts, cross-referencing the player's movement patterns with Palace's defensive shape. The central question is whether the defender's body can handle the demands of a 38-game Premier League season.

"We have to be careful and smart. Injuries are part of the game but we need players who can be available for the majority of the season."

That sentiment, expressed by a Palace coaching figure during the match against Lens, frames the analytical approach. There is no appetite for a repeat of the Nathan Ferguson situation, where a talented defender spent years on the injury list without making a single first-team appearance. Marc Guéhi, who could be departing before the deadline, has spoken briefly with the Japan star. The senior group recognizes the practical value of adding a player with Champions League experience. The medical staff's verdict will determine whether the deal progresses.