Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Arsenal star quits as ‘lucrative’ offers revealed – sources
Ainsley Maitland-Niles will leave Arsenal when his contract expires next month, sources have told Football Insider.
The 25-year-old, who can operate in central midfield and at full-back, is set to end almost 20 years of association with the Gunners.
Talks over an Arsenal contract extension for the England international have failed to get off the ground, with the Premier League runners-up deciding not to trigger their option to extend his deal.
That means Maitland-Niles, who has spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at already-relegated Southampton, is free to find a new club in the off-season.
He is set to receive what well-placed sources say will be “lucrative” offers as a free agent – with Premier League clubs believed to be interested in his services.
Maitland-Niles currently earns a reported wage of £35,000-a-week.
His loan at Southampton is just the latest in a string of temporary moves away from the Emirates Stadium.
He spent the second half of the 2021-22 campaign at Roma, helping Jose Mourinho’s side lift the Europa Conference League.
This term, he has managed 27 Southampton appearances in a variety of roles – including centre-back – and has notched one assist.
However, he could not prevent the Saints’ relegation to the second tier – which was confirmed with a loss against Fulham earlier this month.
Maitland-Niles has been capped five times by England, making his senior international debut in September 2020 after a wealth of caps at youth level.
He made 132 appearances across all competitions during his time with Arsenal, notching three goals and eight assists.
The 25-year-old played his best and most regular football for the Gunners under current Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
In other news, Arsenal’s first summer deal ready after agreement reached.