Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is reportedly expected to depart the club at the end of this season, according to Dutch media outlet AD on Thursday.
The Japan international mutually terminated his contract with Arsenal last summer and joined Ajax in December on a short-term deal running until the end of the 2025-26 season. After more than 480 days without a competitive appearance, Tomiyasu finally returned to action in early February during an Eredivisie match against Excelsior, featuring in seven games so far. He was also called up to the Japan national team in March for the first time in roughly 21 months, though he ultimately missed involvement due to injury.
However, Tomiyasu has not featured in Ajax’s last three matches, including a period of suspension. While he was on the bench for Ajax’s league clash with Utrecht on April 10, he did not get any playing time, just days before Japan’s squad announcement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the report, Ajax is planning a major squad overhaul this summer, making it unlikely they will offer a new contract to Tomiyasu, whose fitness remains a concern. It is now highly probable he will leave as a free transfer when his deal expires.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, who suffered a knee injury shortly after joining Ajax and has been sidelined since, appears to have already had his contract terminated. Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, also set to see his deal end in June, is not expected to sign a new contract either.
Speaking to *Ajax Life* last month, Tomiyasu remained tight-lipped about his future: “At this moment, I hope you understand that I can’t say anything. I want to focus on the remaining weeks of the season and continue to be an important player for Ajax. I want to make my family, friends, and the supporters happy – I play for them. A professional footballer’s life is not just my own.”