Arsenal complete signing of £16m Bologna defender

Lewis Oldham
Arsenal

Arsenal have finalised the signing of Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu for a fee of around £16m plus add-ons, the club have confirmed.

Reports emerged on Tuesday morning that Arsenal were “in talks” with the defender. 

The negotiations advanced quickly as the Gunners were able to complete the signing before the deadline at 11pm on Tuesday.


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Arsenal announced via their official Twitter account that they have signed the Japanese international.

The Athletic have reported that the defender joined the Londoners for an initial fee of £16m plus bonuses. The 22-year-old has signed a four-year deal.

Just before this announcement, Arsenal confirmed that Hector Bellerin has joined Real Betis on loan. 

Elsewhere, Simon Jordan believes that Ainsley Maitland-Niles should be “fined” for attempting to push through a move away from Arsenal:

“What the player wants is the atypical scenario of ‘I want what I want when I want it and it suits me and it suits me only.

“They need to understand that they are the sum of a part and that part is a football club who they’re employees of and they need to do as they’re told.

“They’re not the football club, they’re not more important than Arsenal football club. He’s under contract, he does as he’s told!

“Why isn’t he in Arsenal’s team? Because the team stinks right now, so he has to look at himself as the reason why he isn’t in Arsenal’s team.

“His performances last year at West Brom didn’t pull up any trees, and secondly you are a professional footballer.

“It’s not your gift to go out there and criticise, or make observations about the club you’re currently playing for, because that puts you in a position where you are at odds with the club.

“If it was me, I’d fine him. I’d fine him two weeks wages and say, ‘now you’re definitely staying.’”