Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly agreed to a new deal with the club, with an announcement "imminent."
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Tomiyasu will sign new contractArsenal wanted to keep the versatile defenderSet to return from international dutyGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The report comes from Fabrizio Romano, who reports that the club and head coach Mikel Arteta always wanted to keep the Japan international at the club and that a departure for Tomiyasu was never discussed internally. The report claims that "everything is ready" and that Tomiyasu's new deal would soon be announced. After receiving attention from Italian teams "in the last months," Tomiyasu accepted the terms Arsenal offered, with the Gunners informing the interested parties that there was "no chance" he would be allowed to depart.
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The Japanese defender joined the Premier League giants from Serie A's Bologna in the summer of 2021. Though injuries have severely impeded his time in England, he has been remarkably consistent for the Gunners. This season, he missed several weeks of action in December due to a calf issue, and by the time he recovered, he was headed to the Asian Cup to represent Japan. With Japan now knocked out of the Asian Cup, he will soon return to action with the Gunners.
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The former Bologna full-back was reportedly courted by Bayern Munich last summer, but Arsenal was not interested in selling and intended to give him a contract extension in recognition of his form and consistency. Bayern later targeted Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier but failed in that operation and have finally signed Sacha Boey from Galatasaray.
WHAT NEXT FOR TOMIYASU?
With the Japan international having just returned from the Asian Cup, there are possibilities that Arsenal and Arteta may allow the defender to have at least a week of cool-off before returning to action. This is unless Arteta decides he needs his services earlier. He should also soon sign the deal with Arsenal and tie down his future with the club.
