Crystal Palace have agreed to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old having passed a medical in London after a trial period at Selhurst Park. The club are also weighing up further defensive additions to fill the gap left by Maxence Lacroix’s departure to Chelsea.
How Tomiyasu’s Crystal Palace Trial Turned Into a Deal
Fabrizio Romano reports that the deal is done in all but paperwork, with Tomiyasu due to sign his contract within 48 hours. That timeline is corroborated by Sami Mokbel for the BBC, who confirms Palace are proceeding on the back of a trial spell they regard as a success.
This was not a conventional transfer negotiation. Palace put broad personal terms in place early, then handed head coach Pierre Sage the decision on whether to formalise the move. That trial-first approach reflects both the club’s caution over Tomiyasu’s injury record and their faith in Sage’s judgment.
Tomiyasu first appeared in Palace’s matchday squad for a pre-season friendly against Lens as an unused substitute. He then came on for 30 minutes as a substitute in the subsequent friendly against Al-Ula. That modest audition was enough.
The deal is a free transfer, meaning Palace carry no fee risk, only the wage commitment and the ongoing question of whether Tomiyasu’s body will hold up across a full Premier League campaign.
Tomiyasu’s Injury History Is the Real Risk for Palace
The fitness concern is legitimate. Now 27, Tomiyasu managed only a handful of appearances during his spell at Ajax earlier this year, much of it spent recovering from injury. His time at Arsenal followed the same pattern: flashes of quality interrupted by recurring physical setbacks, and his contract there was eventually terminated by mutual consent in December 2025.
He did make appearances for Japan at this summer’s World Cup, which at least suggests he finished the tournament in some kind of working order.
In terms of what Palace actually get when he is available: a versatile, technically assured defender capable of playing across the back line, with several years of Premier League experience and the kind of positional intelligence Sage values in his system. The upside is real. So is the caveat.
Disasi’s Situation Complicates Palace’s Defensive Rebuild
Tomiyasu fills a squad role. Chelsea’s Axel Disasi would be a bigger addition if Palace could land him, but he is not a straightforward target right now.
Lacroix’s move to Stamford Bridge cost Chelsea in the region of £51-52m, leaving Palace needing a replacement. Disasi, 28, joined Chelsea from Monaco in 2023 but never fully nailed down a first-team place. He spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, where he made 17 appearances and helped the club to six clean sheets despite their relegation to the Championship.
West Ham appear to be the more advanced suitor for a permanent deal, with reports of an agreed framework fee around £25m and a relegation buyout clause attached. Palace are among the clubs monitoring the situation, which gives Disasi leverage to weigh his options before comming to Championship football with West Ham.
Whether Palace can turn that background interest into a genuine competing offer is the open question. Right now, West Ham looks like the more likely destination.
The Verdict
Tomiyasu is done. Low cost, high conditional upside, sensible risk management from a club that sold into Chelsea’s spending power on Lacroix and now need to rebuild intelligently. Disasi is the one to watch, but Palace may be a step behind West Ham rather than leading the race.
