New Arsenal signing Takehiro Tomiyasu has thanked Japan coach Hajima Moriyasu for giving him permission to leave the squad to finalise his move to the Emirates.
Tomiyasu completed a deadline day move to Arsenal this week, joining from Italian side Bologna in a £16.74m deal.
It brought an end to a summer of speculation around the 22-year-old, whose displays in Serie A had earned him several admirers in the Premier League, including Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham.
It had appeared that a move would not be happening before the Gunners elected to make their move at the end of the window, seeking further competition in defence, particularly at right-back after letting Hector Bellerin join Real Betis on loan.
It seems he has Japan coach Moriyasu to thank for getting it over the line, though, with Chunichi revealing he was given permission to skip the game to finalise things with Arsenal, something Tomiyasu is very grateful for, especially since Japan ended up losing their game.
“I wouldn’t be able to transfer without it (permission). I have to thank him,” they report him saying on a recent press appearance.
He’ll now be hoping to pay the coach’s faith back and prove the early doubters at Arsenal wrong in the process.
