On what could be a busy final few hours of the summer transfer window for Arsenal, a first deal of the day has been confirmed with Ainsley Maitland-Niles joining Southampton on loan for the remainder of the season with an option to buy next season football.london understands.
As previously reported by football.london, the England international had been attracting interest from the Saints since last week and the writing has been on the wall with regards to regular playing time with the Gunners having not made a single matchday squad so far this season.
In fact, even with Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Oleksandr Zinchenko all absent for last night's win over Aston Villa, there was still no place on the bench for Maitland-Niles with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opting to call up young midfielder Matt Smith instead.
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It is understood that the Gunners have been happy to let the versatile midfielder leave all summer. Following the announcement, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl 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.”
Now the deal has officially been completed, Maitland-Niles becomes the seventh first-team player to be loaned out by Arsenal this summer after Runar Alex Runarsson, Arthur Okonkwo, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Nicolas Pepe and fellow Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun.
It's also his third loan spell in as many seasons after spending the second half of the previous two campaigns with AS Roma - where he claimed a Europa Conference League winner's medal in an otherwise underwhelming time in Italy with Jose Mourinho - and West Brom respectively.
He is in line to make his Southampton debut at home to Wolves on Saturday afternoon, although as Premier League rules, Maitland-Niles will be ineligible to face his parent club when the two sides meet at St Mary's at the end of next month as well as the reverse fixture next April.
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