*This content was translated by AI.
Japanese national team defender Tomiyasu Takehiro (28) has returned to the English Premier League (EPL) after a one-year absence. In contrast, Korea finds itself in a situation with no first-team EPL Seon Su-ga (EVP) players, highlighting the stark gap between the two nations.
Crystal Palace announced on the 7th (Korea time) via its official channel that it has signed a formal contract with Tomiyasu, who is currently a free agent (FA). His jersey number will be 17.
Steve Parish, the club chairman, expressed his excitement, saying, "We are delighted to bring in a player who has experienced the highest level in Europe and on the international stage." Tomiyasu responded, stating, "Palace is exactly where I wanted to be."
Previously with Arsenal, Tomiyasu had his contract terminated early by mutual agreement with the club in July 2025 due to chronic knee injuries. Facing a crisis in his playing career, he recovered his match fitness by signing a short-term deal with Ajax last year and returning to official competition.
He then contributed to Japan's advancement to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in North America. As a free agent, he participated in Crystal Palace's pre-season trials and secured a final contract. It is also reported that the recommendation from his national team teammate Daichi Kamada, who currently plays for Palace, played a role in his signing.
With Tomiyasu's addition, the number of Japanese players competing on the EPL stage during the 2026–2027 season has reached as many as ten. Alongside Kamada, numerous Japanese players such as Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Daijiro Maeda (Ipswich Town), Hidemasa Morita (Hull City), Kota Takai (Tottenham Hotspur), and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) are either currently active or expected to play in the first division.
In sharp contrast, Korea's presence in the EPL has significantly diminished. Son Heung-min, who played for Tottenham for ten years from 2015, left last year to join LAFC in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, while Hwang Hee-chan's club Wolverhampton Wanderers was relegated to the second-tier Championship.
Promising players such as Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham) and Kim Ji-soo (Brentford) remain under contract with EPL clubs, but their chances of securing opportunities in the first team immediately are slim. Given their uncertain status, there is a high possibility they will soon be loaned out to the second division or to clubs in other countries. As a result, Korean players capable of contributing immediately as ready-made assets on the EPL stage for the new season have virtually disappeared.
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*This content was translated by AI.
