Ainsley Maitland-Niles will spend next season on loan with Southampton after reportedly extending his Arsenal contract.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles would have been out of contract next summer, but the club have reportedly activated the option on his contract for an additional year, tying him down until 2024 and ensuring he can’t leave next season for free.

The utility player, who wants to play in midfield, has now joined Southampton on loan for the season.

They also have apparently have an option to buy him next summer.

Southampton apparently want Maitland-Niles because he can play in both full-back positions.

Maitland-Niles has not been named in a single matchday squad for Arsenal this season as Mikel Arteta makes it clear he has no future at the club under his management.

Spending the second half of last season on loan with Roma, the Italians had been keen to buy him on a permanent basis but as his loan spell wore on, they became less enamoured with that idea.

There is no denying that Maitland-Niles has the talent to play regularly in the Premier League and many at Arsenal would like to see him given more chances at the club, but there seems to be something in him that keeps him from reaching the very top.

He’s made 132 appearances for Arsenal, scoring three and assisting eight across a total of 8,183 minutes.

I’m not overly sure how many more chances Maitland-Niles should get, as much as I’d love to see him make it at the club.

On unrelated Maitland-Niles news, he has just become a father:

Ainsley with the new baby. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZSQYNqwceh

— Tara (@4jinxremoving) August 31, 2022