The most expensive unemployed footballer is moving to Ajax
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 09.12.25. | 19:40
The former Arsenal player agreed on the crucial points of cooperation with the Dutch giants
Every now and then it's worth glancing at the list of free agents - players who, due to an expired or terminated contract, suddenly find themselves without a club. There are always some eye-catching names there. Big names, too: veterans like Lorenzo Insigne, Miralem Pjanic, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Paco Alcacer… but also the occasional player in his prime, someone who still has plenty to offer even to clubs from Europe's top seven leagues, giants or fallen giants alike.
Ajax Amsterdam have just found one of those. And not just anyone, but the most valuable unemployed footballer, free agent on the entire list. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been without a club since July and, with a market value of €16 million, sits far above the rest of the free-agent pool. And according to reputable Voetbal International, Ajax and the Japanese defender have reached an agreement over a short-term deal - a solution that suits both sides perfectly.
Tomiyasu's four-year saga at Arsenal was derailed almost entirely by injuries. The knee was the biggest issue, forcing him into two surgeries. In February, he went under the knife again, and during his recovery he mutually terminated his contract with the Gunners in order to continue rehabilitation in Japan. The 27-year-old made a full recovery at the start of October and has been searching for a new club ever since. To understand how tough his spell in London was: he made 84 appearances for Arsenal and missed 101 matches due to health problems.
Ajax see Tomiyasu as a smart gamble, even though he still needs to regain full match rhythm through training and friendlies. A six-month deal works for both the club and the right-back, especially given Ajax's drop in quality on that side with Anton Gey and Lucas Rosa.
For Tomiyasu, half a season in Amsterdam could be the perfect runway to return to Japan's national team and secure a ticket to the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. At season's end, the two parties would sit down and discuss whether to extend the deal - for example, for an additional year.
Once the contract becomes official, the player Arsenal paid €18.6 million to Bologna in 2021 will reunite with long-time national-team teammate Ko Itakura at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Matchday 6
Tuesday
Kairat Almaty - Olympiacos IN PROGRESS
20.45: (1.28) Bayern Munich (6.75) Sporting Lisbon (10.5)
23.00: (3.35) Atalanta (3.50) Chelsea (2.25)
23.00: (1.17) Barcelona (8.50) Eintracht Frankfurt (15.0)
23.00: (2.00) Inter Milan (3.85) Liverpool (3.75)
23.00: (2.10) Monaco (3.80) Galatasaray (3.45)
23.00: (3.10) PSV Eindhoven (3.75) Atletico Madrid (2.30)
23.00: (3.00) St. Gilloise (3.70) Olympique Marseille (2.35)
23.00: (1.45) Tottenham (4.60) Slavia Prague (7.25)
Wednesday
20.45: (2.00) Qarabag (3.60) Ajax (4.00)
20.45: (1.45) Villarreal (4.50) Copenhagen (7.00)
23.00: (5.80) Athletic Bilbao (3.80) PSG (1.62)
23.00: (2.40) Benfica (3.40) Napoli (3.20)
23.00: (10.0) Club Brugge (5.20) Arsenal (1.37)
23.00: (1.28) Borussia Dortmund (6.00) Bodo/Glimt (9.50)
23.00: (1.18) Juventus (7.25) Pafos (15.0)
23.00: (3.10) Bayer Leverkusen (3.50) Newcastle (2.40)
23.00: (2.55) Real Madrid (3.85) Manchester City (2.65)
***odds are subject to change***
