Arsenal Midfielder Maitland-Niles Joins Roma On A Short-term Loan.

AS Roma has on Saturday announced the signing of Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal on a short-term loan deal until the end of the season.

The England international who has been lacking regular game time under Mikel Arteta, has decided to leave the North London side and join Jose Mourinho in the Serie A, alongside former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.

The loan is subject to the completion of regulatory processes, with no option to buy included.

He will wear the No. 15 shirt for the club, as he would help booster an inconsistent Mourinho squad who are seventh in the league table.

Maitland-Niles expressed his delight via the club's website, following the completion of the move;

 “I am just delighted to be here and can’t wait to crack on,” he said.

“I want to help the team and show what I can do as a player.

“Thank you to the fans for the support they’ve already shown me - I hope we can go on to do something great by the end of the season.”

Maitland-Niles began his career with Arsenal as a young boy, and made his first-team debut at age 17 in a Champions League game against Galatasaray in December 2014. 

He has started just two Premier League games this season, and has so far made 132 appearances for Arsenal.

His contract with the Gunners is set to expire in 2023, having previously enjoyed loan spells at Ipswich Town in 2015, and West Bromwich Albion in the second half of last season.

Apart from his favored position which is the central midfied, the 24-year-old is also good at playing on both flanks.

“With Maitland-Niles we are bringing to Roma a young player who fits well with the profile we were looking for to improve the squad and cover a number of different positions,” said the club’s General Manager, Tiago Pinto.

“When we spoke to Ainsley we were really struck by his enthusiasm about the prospect of joining our group and having the chance to work with Jose Mourinho.