Southampton signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan from Arsenal, which comes with a buy option.

Southampton confirmed the acquisition of Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal on a season-long loan move. The deal contains a buy option which the Saints could redeem at the end of the campaign, while the midfielder has possibly extended his contract at the Emirates.

Arsenal have got another player out the door after Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s departure was confirmed. The versatile midfielder will play at St Marys for the duration of the 2022-23 season, hoping to feature regularly under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the current campaign.

Maitland-Niles, a graduate of Arsenal’s infamous Hale End academy, made his debut as a 17-year-old for the club and made 132 senior appearances. While he is a midfielder by trade, multiple managers in the Emirates and abroad have preferred to play him as a right-back, a position he has been excellent in.

However, his desire to play regularly through the middle has effectively ended his time at Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta preferring other options in those midfield positions. Maitland-Niles also had two separate loan spells away from Arsenal at West Brom and Roma, winning the Europa Conference League last season with the latter.

While there was late interest in the window from West Ham United and Newcastle United, the midfielder seems to have talked with all parties before deciding on Southampton.

Southampton stepped up their chase earlier today and seemingly agreed on a deal with Arsenal to take Maitland-Niles on loan. The season-long agreement consists of a buy option, although figures associated with it currently remain under wraps.

Upon his arrival at the club, Southampton manager Hasenhuttl had a few words of praise for the midfielder. He said, “Ainsley is at a good point in his career, with a lot of experience already, but he is also still a player with potential, and he is someone who can definitely help us.

“I think he fits well with us and can develop his game even further during his time here. He can also play in different positions, which is always a good thing, and I am pleased to welcome him as part of our squad.”

Maitland-Niles will effectively replace Oriol Romeu in the squad, with the midfielder departing for Girona earlier today. The Arsenal academy graduate will be a good signing for the Saints, who could see their midfield zone strengthened with his arrival.

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