Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has confirmed that he will leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old has been a product of the Gunners' academy since 2003 but has been unable to make a consistent impression in the first team.
Since Mikel Arteta took the reins at the Emirates Stadium, Maitland-Niles has been sent out on loan three times to West Bromwich Albion, Roma and Southampton, joining the latter on a season-long deal in the summer.
The five-cap England international has featured regularly in a variety of roles for the Saints this season, coming up with one assist in 23 matches across all competitions.
Maitland-Niles - who was unable to face his parent club in Friday's 3-3 draw - is due to return to the Emirates this summer, but he has announced to The Athletic that he will call time on his Gunners career when his deal runs out.
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"It's been a great journey but it has come to an end now (at Arsenal). It's time for a fresh start and to find a new home," Maitland-Niles said.
"I'm looking forward to that but, at the same time, my head's not quite there yet and it's all about what's happening now with Southampton. I'm just fully focused on trying to help us stay up and stay positive on a day-to-day basis and win games.
"When the time gets closer towards the end of the season, I'll have something else to think about. But right now, I'm just focused on football and the task at hand."
Maitland-Niles's loan move to Southampton included an option to make his stay at St Mary's permanent, but that clause will be voided as Arsenal - who have passed up their option to trigger a one-year contract extension - let him go for free.
Despite the 25-year-old's efforts at right-back, centre-back and central midfield this season, Southampton are staring down the barrel of Premier League relegation, sitting dead last in the table and four points adrift of safety with six games left to go.
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However, Maitland-Niles has affirmed that he would be "more than happy" to pen a permanent contract at St Mary's this summer, regardless of whether Southampton manage to avoid the drop to the Championship.
"Southampton is a great club to be at and progress and get some minutes under my belt. Of course, if they were to make an offer, I'll be more than happy to stay," the Englishman added.
Maitland-Niles prepares to leave Arsenal having registered three goals and eight assists in 132 senior appearances for the club since making his first-team debut under Arsene Wenger in December 2014, coming off the bench against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
The versatile midfielder has won three FA Cups and two Community Shields with Arsenal and was an integral player in their run to the 2019-20 FA Cup crown, playing every minute of their semi-final and final wins over Manchester City and Chelsea on the left-hand side.
Maitland-Niles also became a Europa Conference League winner with Roma last year, despite being a bit-part player under Jose Mourinho, while his most recent - and last-ever - appearance for Arsenal came in a 4-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool in November 2021.
Ben Knapton
