FORMER Saints loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles is reportedly set to join Lyon on a free transfer.
The Arsenal academy graduate spent last season on loan at St Mary’s.
Maitland-Niles made 26 appearances for Saints across all competitions but was unable to help them stave off relegation.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the 5-time England international is closing in on a four-year contract with Laurent Blanc’s Lyon.
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A further report by Sky Sports also notes that the 25 year old rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia in favour of a move to France.
The versatile player is believed to have chosen Lyon in a bid to regain his position in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
In joining Lyon, Maitland-Niles would be following his former Southampton teammate Duje Caleta-Car.
The Croatian defender sealed a loan move to the seven-time Ligue 1 Champions earlier this month, only a year after arriving at St Mary’s.
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