Takehiro Tomiyasu has completed his transfer to Arsenal for €20m plus €3m in bonuses, as Bologna effectively triple their investment.
The 22-year-old Japan international had his medical tests today in Italy and signed the four-year contract with the Gunners.
He will only travel to London after he has gone to Japan on international duty, due to COVID restrictions and quarantine orders.
Tomiyasu never hid his desire to one day play in the Premier League and had been in negotiations all summer with Tottenham Hotspur, but an agreement was never reached.
Also targeted by Atalanta, he has now joined Arsenal for €20m plus up to €3m in performance-related bonuses.
It’s a huge profit for Bologna, who paid €7m to sign him from Belgian club VV Sint-Truiden in 2019.
“Takehiro is a strong defender with good experience in Serie A and at international level,” Arsenal coach Mikkel Arteta told the club website.
“He’s a versatile defender with great defensive qualities, high technical ability and composure on the ball.
“He will be an important member of our squad. We look forward to Takehiro joining up with us when he returns from international duty.”
Tomiyasu plays primarily as a centre-back, but was regularly used at right-back by Bologna and can also work as a defensive midfielder.
He made 64 competitive appearances for Bologna, with three goals scored and three assists.
Welcome to The Arsenal, Takehiro Tomiyasu 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/trL4Wq7zXW
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 31, 2021
Another young talent leaving Serie A for the epl. Sad to see
serie a is almost finished