Championship side Ipswich Town have completed the loan signing of Arsenal starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles according to the BBC.
Maitland-Niles will join Ipswich Town on a season-long loan, as the Championship team hope to gain promotion into the Premier League after Mick McCarthy’s team came close to this feat last season, but lost to rivals Norwich City in the Championship play-off semi-finals.
Breaking into the first team
Maitland-Niles has already made three first team appearances for the Gunners, the England Under-18 player made his debut in the Champions League against Galatasaray in a 4-1 win against the Turkish champions. The promising forward has been at the North London side since the age of nine, and the starlet has climbed his way though the youth rankings. The 17-year-old broke into the Arsenal under-18s side in 2012, before the step up to under-21 level last season where Maitland-Niles made 13 appearances and scored two goals.
Maitland-Niles has also made his mark on the international stage for England, representing the Three Lions at both Under-17 and Under-18 levels, where he has managed one goal in three appearances. The London born attacker is an incredibly versatile player, being able to play as a central midfielder, striker and even as a right-winger during his time in the under-21’s team. Maitland-Niles is known for his incredible pace and having a keen eye for goal, Maitland-Niles also posses’ incredible technique and the Arsenal youngster is also known for his excellent crossing.
Maitland-Niles will be Ipswich’s fourth signing of the Transfer Window. Ryan Fraser and Brett Pitman both joined the Suffolk team from newly promoted AFC Bournemouth, as Ipswich star, Tyrone Mings, went the other way in an £8 million move to the Premier League side. Ipswich also signed former Cardiff City defender, Josh Yorweth, on a free transfer after the Wales Under-21 international was released by the Bluebirds in May.