Takehiro Tomiyasu


Takehiro Tomiyasu is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bologna.

Club career

Avispa Fukuoka

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Tomiyasu was first scouted by the Mitsuzuki Kickers’ general manager Kanji Tsuji, and was impressed with his performance, especially his speed. Following this, Tsuji invited his parents and convinced them to let him play football, which led Tomiyasu enrolled at Mitsuzuki Elementary School. When he was eleven, Tomiyasu was recommended for a trial at FC Barcelona Soccer Camp by his coach. He impressed at the trial that FC Barcelona offered him a place on the club’s youth academy but it was difficult for him to relocate to Spain and the move was cancelled. Despite this, Tomiyasu said the experience at the Soccer Camp gave him a put of good use.
After failing to join FC Barcelona, Tomiyasu joined Avispa Fukuoka. Initially playing in the midfield position, he switched to a centre–back position. During his time at Avispa Fukuoka’s youth system, Tomiyasu once served as a captain there. He impressed at the 2013’s JFA Premier Cup that he was named Best Eleven. In May 2015, it was announced that Avispa Fukuoka registered Tomiyasu. After appearing two matches as an unused substitute, he made his debut for the club on 14 October 2015, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 loss against Machida Zelvia in the third round of the Emperor’s Cup. At the end of the 2015 season, Tomiyasu signed a temporary contract with Avispa Fukuoka.
At the start of the 2016 season, Tomiyasu spent the first half of the J.League season on the substitute bench. It wasn’t until on 20 April 2016 when he made his first appearance of the season, starting the whole game in the defensive midfield position, in a 0–0 draw against Vegalta Sendai in the J. League Cup. However in the J. League Cup match against Sagan Tosu, Tomiyasu was sent–off for a second bookable offence, in a 1–1 draw. Two months later on 13 July 2016, he made his league debut for the club, starting the whole game in the defensive midfield position, in a 2–1 win against FC Tokyo. Since making his debut for the club, Tomiyasu became a first team regular for the side, playing in the defensive midfield position. It was reported on 26 September 2016 that he has become the second player in the league to be the fastest player at 12.436 km in. Following the club’s relegation to J. League 2, Tomiysu went on to make sixteen appearances in all competitions. At the end of the 2016 season, Tomiysu had his contract with the club.
In the 2017 season, Tomiysu became a first team regular for the side, playing in the centre–back position. He then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win against Roasso Kumamoto on 19 March 2017. Despite being absent from the first team, due to international commitment, Tomiysu continued to regain his first team place for the club for the rest of the season. He then helped Avispa Fukuoka three clean sheets in three matches between 29 July 2017 and 11 August 2017. Tomiysu later helped the club qualify for the J1 League Promotion Playoffs, having finished fourth place in the league. He helped the side beat Tokyo Verdy 1–0 to reach the semi–finals of the J1 League Promotion Playoffs. In the final of the J1 League Promotion Playoffs against Nagoya Grampus, Tomiysu played 90 minutes, as they drew 0–0 but saw Avispa Fukuoka unsuccessfully promoted to J. League One. At the end of the 2017 season, Tomiysu went on to make thirty–nine appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Sint-Truidense

It was announced on 8 January 2018 that Tomiyasu would be moving abroad for the first time in his career by joining Belgian First Division A side Sint-Truiden. He signed a three and a half year contract with the club, keeping him until 2021. Upon joining the club, Tomiyasu said: "I want to become a special player in Belgium."
After spending months at training and recovering from an ankle injury, Tomiyasu made his Sint-Truiden debut for the club, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–1 win against Royal Antwerp on 12 May 2018. This turned out to be his only appearance of the 2017–18 season.
In the 2018–19 season, Tomiyasu made his first start for Sint-Truiden, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Cercle Brugge in the opening game of the season. Since the start of the season, he became a first team regular for the side, playing in the centre–back position. Between 23 September 2018 and 30 September 2018, Tomiyasu kept three consecutive clean sheets in three matches. Having spent in the centre–back position since the start of the season, he played in the right–back position, which came against Zulte Waregem on 4 November 2018. It wasn’t until on 25 November 2018 when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–2 win against Anderlecht. After spending January, due to his international commitment with Japan, it wasn’t until on 9 February 2019 when Tomiyasu made his first team return, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Waasland-Beveren. He continued to regain his first team for the side for the rest of the 2018–19 season. His performance received praise from the Belgian media. As a result, he won the club’s Player of the Year. In his second season at Sint-Truidense, Tomiyasu made forty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Bologna

It was reported on 29 June 2019 that Bologna agreed a 9 million euros deal to sign Tomiyasu. The transfer move was confirmed on 9 July 2019 and becomes the second Japanese player to join the club after Hidetoshi Nakata. Upon joining the club, he said: "Impression that the defensive tactics are detailed. The striker level is also very high. "I chose this team because I wanted to learn individual defense tactics. First I wanted to be on the pitch. "
Tomiyasu made his Bologna debut, starting the whole game, and helped the club win 3–0 against A.C. Pisa 1909 in the first round of the Italian Cup. Seven days later on 25 August 2019, he made his league debut and started the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Hellas Verona. After the match, Tomiyasu was named Man of the Match for his debut performance. Having made three appearances for the club, he was named August’s Player of the Month. Tomiyasu started in the first league seven matches before suffering a hamstring injury in mid–October that kept him out for a month. It wasn’t until on 24 November 2019 when he made his return to the starting line–up, in a 2–2 draw against Parma. Since joining the club, Tomiyasu quickly established himself in the starting eleven, playing in the right–back position, and his performance has quickly impressed the Italian media and supporters alike.

International career

Youth

Having previously played for Japan U14 and Japan U15, Tomiyasu was called up to the Japan U16 for the first time in March 2013 ahead of the Montaigu Tournament. He participated in the tournament, as the U16 side finished seventh place. In August 2014, Tomiyasu was called for Japan U16 ahead of the AFC U-16 Championship in Thailand. He made two appearances in the tournament, as Japan U16 were eliminated in the quarter–finals.
In July 2014, Tomiyasu was called up to the Japan U17 for the first time. He participated in a number of matches for the side throughout 2015.
In June 2015, Tomiyasu was called up to the Japan U18 squad for the Panda Cup. He played two times in the tournament, as the U18 side won the trophy, finishing first place. In March 2016, Tomiyasu was called up to the Japan U-19 squad for the first time. Six months later, he was ahead of the AFC U-19 Championship in Bahrain. Tomiyasu played his first match of the tournament, where he helped the U19 side win 3–0 against Yemen U19. Tomiyasu scored his first goal of the tournament, in a 3–0 win against Qatar U19 on 20 October 2016. He helped the Japan U19 reached the final after beating Vietnam in the semi–final. Tomiyasu started in the final against Saudi Arabia U19 and played 120 minutes; which resulting Japan U19 won 5–3 on penalties. During the AFC U-19 Championship tournament, Tomiyasu helped the Japan U19 side keep all six clean sheets.
In May 2017, Tomiyasu was elected Japan U-20 national team for 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea. He made his Japan U20 debut, starting the whole game, in a 3–2 win against Honduras U-20 in a friendly match. At this tournament, Tomiyasu played full time in all 4 matches as centre back, as the U-20 side were eliminated in the quarter–finals.
In May 2018, Tomiyasu was called up to the Japan U21 for the first time ahead of the Toulon Tournament. He went on to make four appearances for the side, as they were eliminated in the Group Stage.

Senior

On 30 August 2018, Tomiyasu received his first international call-up from the Japan national football team for the Kirin Challenge Cup 2018. It wasn’t until on 12 October 2018 when he made his Japan debut, starting the whole game, in a 3–0 win against Panama. Tomiyasu became the first teenager to start in the senior team since Ryo Miyaichi. A month later on 16 November 2018, Tomiyasu made his second appearance for the national side, in a 1–1 draw against Venezuela.
In December 2018, Tomiyasu was re-called to the Japanese squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He made his tournament debut for the national side, starting the whole game and helped Japan win 3–2 against Turkmenistan. Tomiyasu helped Japan kept a clean sheet by beating Oman 1–0 win to advance to the knockout stage. He then scored his first goal for the national side, scoring from a header, in a 1–0 win against Saudi Arabia to reach the semi–finals. Tomiyasu later played two more matches of the tournament, which saw the national side reaching the final for the first time since 2011. n the AFC Asian Cup final against Qatar, he started and captained the side, as they lost 3–1, finishing as runner–up in the process.
Following the conclusion to the AFC Asian Cup tournament, Tomiyasu was called up to the squad ahead of the Copa América in Brazil. He started all three matches, playing in the centre–back position, as they were eliminated in the Group Stage. Tomiyasu later played three matches of 2019, helping the national side kept three clean sheets.

Style of Play

Playing in either the right–back and centre–back positions, Tomiyasu is known for his well structured physically, ambidextrous and speed.

Personal life

Tomiyasu has two sisters. He was planning to do swimming to follow his sisters before switching to football instead. In his first Bologna’s press conference, Tomiyasu said he began to learn Italian and asked the media to call him Tomi. By February 2020, Italian media Corriere Di Bologna reported that Tomiyasu already speaks Italian.
Growing up, Tomiyasu said he idolised Javier Mascherano. Tomiyasu said that he wanted to be a footballer.

Career statistics

Club

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan201820
Japan2019161
JapanTotal181

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.21 January 2019Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates1–01–02019 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

International

Japan U-19
Japan