Ainsley Maitland-Niles, a star for Arsenal, has announced that he would leave the club in the summer and sign with a Premier League competitor.
The 25-year-old has spent this season on loan at Southampton and has no intention of returning to the Emirates in the upcoming campaign.
Maitland-Niles left Arsenal to sign with the Saints in order to get more playing time and play in the midfield.
He has only started 14 of the 22 games he has played for the struggling team in all competitions.
He enrolled in Arsenal's development academy at the young age of six, and under previous manager Arsene Wenger, he made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in late 2014. He has appeared 132 times for the Gunners in all, with three goals and eight assists.
However, the athlete claims that he would really like moving to the Saints on a permanent basis.
Maitland-Niles is "more than happy" to immediately join Southampton.
Maitland-Niles told the publication, confirming his own departure: "It's been a great journey but it has come to an end now (at Arsenal)." It's time to make a new beginning and find a new house.
Although I'm looking forward to it, my mind isn't fully there yet because everything is focused on what is happening with Southampton right now.
"I'm just entirely focused on trying to support us in staying up, remaining optimistic on a daily basis, and winning games. I'll have another thought when the season's end approaches and the moment gets closer. I'm only concentrating on football and the current objective, though, at this time.
"Southampton is a terrific club to be at, improve with, and accumulate some playing time. Of course, I'd be more than pleased to stay if they made an offer.
It stands to reason that Southampton will only consider a transfer for a player earning Premier League salaries if they manage to stay out of the Championship. They are now four points from safety and at the bottom of the standings.
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