LONDON - Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu signed for Crystal Palace on Friday, the former Arsenal man making his return to the English Premier League after a year away.
The 27-year-old, who was a free agent after spending the second half of last season with Dutch side Ajax, has been training with Palace lately and now officially joins his Samurai Blue teammate Daichi Kamada in south London.
"I'm so excited to be here," Tomiyasu said. "This club is in a good moment, won three titles in two seasons including the Community Shield. I wanted to be in a competitive environment. Here is the place that I wanted to be."
"I played with him (Kamada) when I was 19 when we were in Belgium (at Sint-Truiden), we've been playing with the national team as well, so I know his character, his quality on the pitch."
Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2021 but left the Gunners by mutual consent in July last year following prolonged battles with a right knee injury.
The Fukuoka Prefecture native played in his second straight World Cup this summer as Japan were eliminated in the round of 32 with a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in Houston.
Palace, the Conference League champions, begin the new Premier League campaign under new French manager Pierre Sage away to Everton on Aug. 22.
