Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the verge of joining Venezia, with the Japanese defender set to return to Serie A as a free agent.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Lagunari have been the quickest to secure the player’s agreement, with an understanding in place on a three-year contract worth around €1 million net per season plus appearance-based bonuses.

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Developments could arrive as soon as this weekend, with Sassuolo among the clubs to have shown interest in recent days.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal celebrates after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Tottenham Hotspur scored an own goal, Arsenal’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Venezia move for Tomiyasu after Sverko injury blow

The push has been accelerated by misfortune elsewhere in the squad: Marin Sverko has undergone corrective hip surgery that could sideline him for three to four months, leaving him out of the squad for the club’s training camp and creating an urgent need at the back.

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Tomiyasu arrives via a winding road.

He made his name in Italy with two seasons at Bologna between 2019 and 2021: 61 Serie A appearances, three goals and three assists, before a €19 million move to Arsenal, where injuries increasingly curtailed a promising spell.

A brief six-month stint at Ajax followed, yielding seven appearances, though he showed his enduring quality with three outings for Japan at this summer’s World Cup.

For Venezia, the 27-year-old represents a shrewd, cost-free addition of genuine pedigree – provided his fitness holds. For Tomiyasu, it is a chance to rebuild in a league that knows him well.