TOKYO - Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has withdrawn from the Japan squad due to injury ahead of their international friendlies away to Scotland and England, the Japan Football Association said Tuesday.
The 27-year-old former Arsenal player was named among manager Hajime Moriyasu's Samurai Blue squad on last Thursday for the first time in a year and nine months ahead of the two matches against their fellow World Cup qualifiers.
Tomiyasu made his second straight Eredivisie start when Ajax drew 1-1 away to Feyenoord on Sunday but signaled his discomfort as he sat on the pitch before getting replaced in the 73rd minute.
"It's a part of process!!" Tomiyasu wrote on his Instagram post. "Haste makes waste. I'll do what I have to do."
Tomiyasu has had two surgeries on his right knee since August 2024 and left Arsenal by mutual consent last summer before joining Ajax on a six-month deal in January.
Japan, 19th in the FIFA rankings, face 38th-ranked Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Saturday and fourth-ranked England at Wembley Stadium in London on Tuesday.
Tomiyasu is the second Japan player to withdraw after St. Pauli defender Tomoya Ando was also hit by injury and replaced by Gent defender Daiki Hashioka. No player was called up in place of Tomiyasu.
