Arsenal academy graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set for a new lease on life away from the Premier League after the Hale End product and former Gunners full-back is on the verge of joining French giants Olympique Lyonnais on a free transfer.
Per football insider Fabrizio Romano and other sources, Maitland-Niles has already agreed to a four-year contract with Les Gones after his long-time connection to Arsenal reached its conclusion after the club jettisoned the 25-year-old swiss army knife player in the wake of a cadre of loan spells in the last three seasons.
Olympique Lyon are now on the verge of signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles on free transfer, confirmed — as reported by @Podcast_TBG. 🚨🔴🔵 #OL
Four year deal verbally agreed, talks moving to the final stages.
AMN, available as free agent after leaving Arsenal in June. pic.twitter.com/hyT12qHRlV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2023
Despite once being a valued commodity at the Emirates under Unai Emery, AMN had no place in Mikel Arteta’s senior setup once the Spanish tactician found his footing in the wake of his Arsenal return, with the five-time capped England international spending time with West Bromwich Albion, AS Roma, and most recently Southampton.
With little interest being garnered for his services on home soil, Lyon has optioned to bring the player into the fold in the Rhône Valley after the club lost both Romaine Faivre and Malo Gusto to Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively.
Maitland-Niles would link back up with Croatian center-back Duje Ćaleta-Car after the pair both featured for Saints last season, with the 26-year-old international having joined Lyon on loan for the 2023-24 league campaign after Southampton dropped down to the Championship.
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