Takehiro Tomiyasu in talks over London return a year after Arsenal exit

Crystal Palace have held talks with former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu over a potential return to London, according to Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport.

The Japan international left the Gunners last summer and subsequently suffered a torrid injury-ridden year, which prevented him from making a major impact for Ajax, who he joined on a short-term deal in January.

Having shaken off his fitness issues, Tomiyasu is ready to make a return to action and he could be facing a comeback to the city where he first made his name in England.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu

There had been reports in recent days that Tomiyasu had been training with Palace as a trialist and that was confirmed when he was named as a substitute for their pre-season friendly with Ligue 1 side Lens on Tuesday.

The defender is said to have held talks with the club over signing permanently with a broad agreement on terms in place if new Eagles manager Pierre Sage does decide to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Sage is expected to deploy a back three for his new side and it is understood Tomiyasu is viewed as a potential option to play on the left side, despite being right footed and playing primarily on the right side of Arsenal's defence during his time at the club.

If the Japan international is to join Palace, it would see him make his return to London a year after leaving the Gunners. His final season in North London was spent dealing with a number of injuries, leading to an early termination of his contract last July.

Having joined as a deadline day signing from Bologna in 2021, Tomiyasu became a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium and played a key part in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 title races, operating across as a versatile option across Mikel Arteta's backline.

He made 84 appearances for Arsenal, but his constant struggles with injuries prevented him from ever holding down a solid spot in the team and was eventually displaced by the likes of Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori.

Six months after leaving the Gunners, he joined Eredivisie side Ajax in January, but he faced the same problems, meaning he played just nine games for the Dutch giants before leaving at the end of his contract.

While Tomiyasu has faced tough battles with several fitness issues in the last few years, he is more than capable of performing for a Premier League side when fit. A move to Palace would present him with a great chance to reignite his career, but as was the case during his time at Arsenal, he will have to make sure he stays fit.

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