by Lewis Ambrose
Ipswich Town have completed the signing of 17 year-old Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The Championship club are seeking promotion to the Premier League this season and hope the addition of the teenager will boost their chances.
Maitland-Niles made his Arsenal debut last season becoming the second youngest player to represent the club in the Champions League when he played a half against Galatasaray.
Arsenal u21s have seen the midfielder feature heavily over the last two years, and now senior experience will do him a lot of good. The midfielder was originally a winger but saw himself used in a more central role last season.
Speaking to Ipswich Player HD, Maitland-Niles said:
“It’s been a long wait to get the deal done but I’m here now and I’m ready to work.
“Arsenal want me to get a bit of experience under my belt and I’m happy to do that. I’m still young and there’s plenty of time for me to develop.
“The Championship is a tough league but one I feel ready to perform in. The lads have really made me feel welcome here, they are wonderful.
“You can tell there’s a good group here and they’ve helped me settle in really well. I’m ready to work hard in pre-season now and hopefully hit the ground running ahead of the new season.”
The move can only be a good thing for everyone involved, and we hope to hear a lot about the midfielder in the future.