Arsenal dressing room face £25m blow as Mikel Arteta ‘accepts’ transfer is on the cards

Takehiro Tomiyasu could be set to depart Arsenal in the January transfer window, with reports suggesting Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the possibility of the defender’s exit. Since his £15.5 million move from Bologna in 2021, Tomiyasu has endeared himself to the Arsenal squad and fans, despite injury problems.

Despite making 64 Premier League appearances, an unfortunate run of injuries has kept the 25-year-old from holding down a regular spot in Arteta’s starting XI. Interest from Serie A giants Inter Milan, Napoli, and Juventus has emerged, with The Sun claiming that Tomiyasu is not averse to leaving the Premier League in 2025.

Tomiyasu’s popularity among his team-mates at the Emirates Stadium might make his potential departure a bittersweet moment for the squad.

Speaking back in 2023 after Tomiyasu scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 5-0 win over Sheffield United, Arteta praised the versatile defender for his likeability in the dressing room and his overall work ethic.

He said: “I love him. Everybody loves him. He’s one of the most popular in the dressing room.”

Arteta added: “You can see the reaction of his team-mates towards him. They wanted him there at the front, enjoying it. He’s always very reserved and always doing things for the rest of the boys. He’s a fantastic player for the team.”

Tomiyasu, who is contracted with Arsenal until 2026, has a reported price tag of £25million. It’s been suggested that Inter showed interest in the versatile defender during the summer transfer window, but no concrete moves were made.

Despite his limited appearances – he only made six starts for the Gunners last season – it is understood Arsenal are not open to loaning out Tomiyasu.

The player has yet to make an appearance in Arteta’s squad this season due to a knee injury that has kept him off the pitch since July. As they prepare to face Manchester City in a crucial top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad this Sunday, Arsenal will be hoping for as full a roster of fit players as they can muster to keep the title challenge going.