Venezia chase former Ajax defender as his contract expires

Takehiro Tomiyasu, the 27‑year‑old Japanese defender who left Ajax after a six‑month spell, is being pursued by Serie A side Venezia as his contract expires on 1 July. The former Arsenal player is currently representing Japan at the World Cup, with a round‑of‑16 clash against Brazil scheduled for Monday in Houston. Ajax secured Tomiyasu on a free transfer in December last year after his Arsenal contract was terminated. The defender, aged 27, needed time to regain fitness before becoming a valuable asset towards the season’s end. Tomiyasu’s stay in Amsterdam was limited to half a year, with his deal set to run out on 1 July. He recently posted a farewell message to Ajax fans on Instagram.

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After departing the Dutch capital, the Japanese international attracted interest from several clubs, including Sassuolo and English sides. Nicolo Schira noted that an additional Serie A club is also monitoring Tomiyasu. The newly promoted Venezia has entered the race, with initial discussions already underway. Details of the negotiations remain undisclosed. Tomiyasu is currently active with Japan at the World Cup, where he will face Brazil on Monday at 19:00 in the round of 16. The match will be played in Houston.