Arsenal have signed Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu for £19.8 million. According to Sky Sports, the Japanese defender has signed a four-year deal with an option of an extra year.
Earlier in the transfer window, Tomiyasu had interested from Arsenal rivals Tottenham. But Tottenham did not pursue the player. Tomiyasu is capable of playing as a center back as well as a right back. Arsenal have splashed big money this summer. They have signed Ben White from Brighton for £50 million and Nuni Tavares for around £8m.
The signing of Tomiyasu could be vital for Arsenal as he is very versatile. Tomiyasu will give Mikel Arteta more options at the back. Despite heavy spending, this summer Arsenal are in a terrible position in the Premier League. They have lost all of their three opening games and are yet to score a goal. Moreover, they have conceded 9 goals which second most in the league.
The 22-year-old defender is a strong presence in any backline. Moreover, he is quick and has recovery speed to ensure this is not caught by opponents. Tomiyasu is tall and he uses his height to his advantage. Arsenal often crumble when their defense is put under pressure. Since Tomiyasu is very calm on the ball this would help Arsenal greatly. Meanwhile, his arrival will allow Kieran Tierney to worry a little less about the defense and participate in attacks.
Over the last two seasons, Tomiyasu has made 63 appearances for Bologna. He has 23 caps for his national team Japan. Moreover, he was part of the Olympics squad.
What does Tomiyasu’s arrival at Arsenal indicate for Cedric Soares?
Cedric Soares put up a disastrous performance against Manchester City. This would obviously mean that Tomiyasu will get his chance at the right back position. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s right back Hector Bellerin joins Real Betis for the season on loan. This means that Tomiyasu is a priority signing for Arsenal. He could end up being a vital part of their rebuild.
