Ex-Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles closing in on return to football as he leaves boyhood club after 20 years

AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES is closing in on a return to football after leaving Arsenal.

The versatile midfielder has been a free agent since leaving the Gunners back in June.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is close to sealing a return to footballGetty

He had been with the club for 20 years after joining his boyhood club back in 2003.

However, he was one of 10 players released by Arsenal at the end of his contract this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, though, Maitland-Niles is on the verge of joining a new club.

He has verbally agreed a four-year deal with Lyon, with talks now at their final stages.

The free transfer will seal his return to football following over a month without a club.

Maitland-Niles will link up with ex-Arsenal team-mate Alexandre Lacazette in France.

He had been linked with a Premier League move earlier in the transfer window.

As many as four clubs were reportedly eyeing a deal to sign the 25-year-old.

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Talks with Everton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United failed to result in a transfer, though.

During his time with Arsenal, Maitland-Niles made 132 appearances, scoring three goals.

The former Ipswich loanee also won the FA Cup three times and was capped five times by England.

He spent last season on loan at Southampton, suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Saints.

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles (right) spent last season on loan at Arsenal[/caption]