It appears Ajax has turned a corner. After a disappointing start to the season, which saw John Heitinga dismissed and Fred Grim installed as assistant manager and a difficult transition, the Amsterdam club has four games in row.
They won their final (and first) Champions League game a week ago and followed this up with a brilliant 2-0 win over second-placed Feyenoord at the weekend and, still sitting in third, this closes the gap to just five points.
🚨🔴⚪️ Ajax are closing in on deal to sign former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu as free agent.
Short term contract until June, as @GBabaSport reports — could be offered a longer deal in summer 2026 based on this season performances.
Agreement at final stages. pic.twitter.com/ReCT2phuVf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2025
Ajax are in the ascendancy. News of Takehiro Tomiyasu’s arrival at the club on a free transfer is likely to add to a renewed sense of optimism for fans who had likely written the club off.
Tomiyasu Provides Competence At Both Ends
Perhaps surprisingly released by Arsenal in the summer, the Japan international will relish the chance to compete for silverware again.
His experience and quality can prove to be a major asset for the club which will be looking upwards following its run of recent results. While the gap between third and first-placed PSV Eindhoven is still considerable (14 points), there is no reason why it cannot be closed, especially with the two clubs to play each other at the Johan Cruyff Arena next year.
Capable of playing across the backline, he fits the Ajax footballing philosophy; under Mike Arteta at Arsenal, he became adept at playing out of the back while used as a centre-back, while at full-back, Tomiyasu posed a great attacking threat.
There is no doubt that this signing is somewhat of a coup for the club and during his time at Arsenal he showed what he is capable of. Part of one of the most defensively solid rearguards in the Premier League, he was able to form partnerships with ease, showcased his crossing ability and even got on the scoresheet.
Signing him also ticks a number of boxes for Ajax. Versatility, defensive stability and creativity all rolled into one, not to mention the experience that he will contribute.
January Opens More Possible Doors
It remains to be seen to what extent the January transfer window has been identified as a realistic possibility to bring in more signings, though, if there is a deal to be made which suits all parties then we may see some activity.
Obviously, January can be notoriously hard for clubs to do business, due to inflated transfer fees and, it is often the case that loan deals are done. If the club is to win the Eredivisie, which would be a phenomenal achievement, then a goalscorer would no doubt be perfect.
An ideal solution could be to bring in a striker on loan from a club around Europe, who isn’t getting game time, but who should prove to be prolific in the Dutch league. Usually big clubs have a striker who is fed up of being sat on the bench and with the World Cup coming up, there may well be a few who may want to force their way into contention. So, you just never know, but you get the feeling that Tomiyasu’s arrival has already had a positive effect.