Arsenal and England midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has completed a loan move to Italian side AS Roma in a bid to find more game time.
The Arsenal academy graduate began the season by publicly pleading on his Instagram story for a transfer exit in the final days of the summer window after interest from Everton.
“All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play”
Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Instagram last summer
But the 24-year-old decided to stay until at least January to fight for his place in the team after having talks with manager Mikel Arteta.
However, he failed to nail a spot in the first team squad making just two league starts since the start of the season.
A loan agreement has been struck with the Stadio Olympico based side and the versatile player will bolster the ranks of Roma manager Jose Mourinho as they look to nick a spot for European football next season.
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๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Ainsley Maitland-Niles ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
๐ Welcome to the Giallorossi! ๐ฎ๐น
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โ AS Roma English
(@ASRomaEN)January 8, 2022
The England international took a moment to thank Arsenal fans for their support after signing for the Giallorossi:
“I am just delighted to be here and can’t wait to crack on. I want to help the team and show what I can do as a player,” Maitland-Niles said.
“Thank you to the fans for the support they have already shown me – I hope we can go on to do something great by the end of the season.” He added.
Niles was named in Arsenal’s squad 17 times, started just two of those, came on from the bench on six occasions and was an unused substitute in nine games amounting to just 264 minutes of action in the league this season.
His only goal contribution was an assist provided in a 6:0 trashing of Westbrom in the Carabao Cup back in August.
OJB SPORT 