Crystal Palace sign Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Japan international defender Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer, the club announced on August 7, 2026. The versatile 27-year-old, who was a free agent after leaving Ajax this summer, has signed a permanent deal to bolster manager Pierre Sage's defensive options ahead of the new Premier League and Europa League campaign.

Tomiyasu, who has 46 caps for Japan and was part of their 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, brings extensive experience from his time in England's top flight with Arsenal, where he made 84 appearances between 2021 and 2025. Capable of playing as both a full-back and center-back, he is expected to provide crucial depth following the departure of key defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea last week for a reported fee of 51 million pounds. Club chairman Steve Parish praised the acquisition, stating that Tomiyasu has experience at the highest level of European and international football. The player himself expressed excitement about joining a club he described as being in a good moment, having won three titles in the last two seasons.

The deal, which had been anticipated for several days after the player passed a medical in...