1. Early Life and Background
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was born on 29 August 1997, in Goodmayes, Greater London, England. He was raised in Ilford, East London, and attended Oaks Park High School in Ilford. He grew up in a single-parent family with his mother, Jule Niles, and his brother, Cordi. Maitland-Niles is of Jamaican descent.
2. Club Career
Maitland-Niles' club career is primarily marked by his long tenure at Arsenal, from his early academy days to his establishment as a first-team player, punctuated by several loan spells, before his eventual move to Lyon.
2.1. Arsenal
Maitland-Niles spent a significant portion of his developing years within the Arsenal Academy, eventually making his way into the senior squad and participating in key moments for the club.
2.1.1. Youth and Early Professional Career (2003-2014)
Maitland-Niles joined Arsenal's academy at the age of six in 2003. He steadily progressed through the youth ranks, breaking into the U18 setup and then making the step up to the U21 squad during the 2013-14 season. On 24 October 2014, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
His professional debut for Arsenal came at the age of 17 years and 102 days on 9 December 2014, in a UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray. He replaced Aaron Ramsey at half-time in a match that Arsenal won 4-1. This appearance made him the second youngest player to represent Arsenal in the Champions League, behind Jack Wilshere. Just four days later, on 13 December 2014, Maitland-Niles made his Premier League debut, coming on as a substitute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in added time during a 4-1 victory against Newcastle United.
2.1.2. Senior Debut and Ipswich Town Loan (2014-2016)
Following his initial senior appearances, Maitland-Niles gained further experience through a loan spell. On 2 July 2015, he signed a season-long loan deal with Ipswich Town for the 2015-16 season, where he was given the number seven shirt.
He made his debut for Ipswich Town on 8 August 2015, starting the opening game of the season against Brentford, which ended in a 2-2 draw. His early performances for Ipswich were highly impactful, earning praise from manager Mick McCarthy, who described him as "outstanding." Maitland-Niles' contributions led to him being named the club's Player of the Month for September. On 3 November 2015, he scored his first goal for Ipswich, which was also his first senior goal in professional football, contributing to a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers. His second goal for the club came on 19 January 2016, in a 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay loss against Portsmouth. Towards the end of the season, his first-team opportunities at Ipswich became more limited due to injuries and increased competition, leading him to play for the reserve side. He concluded his loan spell with 32 appearances and two goals across all competitions before returning to Arsenal.
2.1.3. First-team Breakthrough at Arsenal (2016-2020)
Upon his return to Arsenal, Maitland-Niles gradually established himself as a more regular presence in the first team. In the 2016-17 season, he started a match at right-back in the EFL Cup away against Nottingham Forest. He also featured in central midfield during an FA Cup fourth-round game against Southampton, which Arsenal won 5-0, and came on as a substitute in the fifth round of the FA Cup in a 2-0 win against Sutton United.
Maitland-Niles became a regular first-team player during Arsène Wenger's final season as manager, making 28 appearances across all competitions. On 12 June 2018, he signed a long-term contract with Arsenal, signaling the club's faith in his development.
Under new manager Unai Emery, Maitland-Niles started at left-back in Emery's first match on 12 August 2018. However, he was substituted 35 minutes into the game due to a broken leg. After recovering from his injury and benefiting from a season-ending injury to Héctor Bellerín, Maitland-Niles established himself as Emery's starting right-back for the remainder of the season. He scored his first goal for the club on 29 December 2018, in a 5-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. On 14 March 2019, he scored his first UEFA Europa League goal, contributing to Arsenal's second goal in a 3-0 quarter-final second-leg victory against Stade Rennais at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal would eventually reach the final of the Europa League, where they were runners-up.
Maitland-Niles retained his position as Arsenal's starting right-back for the opening games of the 2019-20 Premier League season while Bellerín continued his recovery. On 22 September 2019, he received a red card in the first half of Arsenal's 3-2 victory against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, after receiving two yellow cards. He scored his first EFL Cup goal against Liverpool in a thrilling 5-5 draw at Anfield, which Liverpool won on penalties. On 1 August 2020, Maitland-Niles started in the 2020 FA Cup Final against Chelsea, helping Arsenal secure their 14th FA Cup title.
He continued his strong performances by starting the 2020 FA Community Shield on 29 August 2020 against Liverpool. The match ended 1-1, and Maitland-Niles successfully converted Arsenal's second penalty in the shoot-out, which Arsenal won 5-4. His performance earned him the man of the match award. Despite these achievements, Maitland-Niles later struggled to secure a consistent place in Mikel Arteta's first team, leading to interest from clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Southampton for a loan move.
2.1.4. Loan Spells and Departure (2021-2023)
Facing limited playing time at Arsenal, Maitland-Niles embarked on a series of loan moves to gain more experience. On 1 February 2021, he joined fellow Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on a loan deal until the end of the season. He made his debut for West Brom on 7 February in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.
During the summer of 2021, Maitland-Niles was linked with a potential loan move to Everton. When the transfer did not materialize, he publicly expressed his desire to leave Arsenal on 30 August 2021 via social media, stating his wish to move to a club where he was "wanted" and would play consistently. Despite this public statement, discussions with manager Mikel Arteta led to him remaining at Arsenal for the first half of the 2021-22 season.
On 8 January 2022, Maitland-Niles joined Serie A club Roma on a loan deal until the end of the season. While at Roma, he contributed to the club's success in winning the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League title.
On 1 September 2022, he moved to Southampton on a season-long loan for the 2022-23 season. Following the expiration of his contract with Arsenal, the club announced on 16 June 2023 that Maitland-Niles would be leaving.
2.2. Olympique Lyonnais (2023-present)
After his departure from Arsenal, Maitland-Niles sought a new challenge in France. On 7 August 2023, he joined French Ligue 1 club Lyon on a four-year deal as a free transfer. He quickly integrated into the squad and on 7 January 2024, he scored his first goal for Lyon against Pontarlier during a Coupe de France match. Lyon also reached the Coupe de France final in the 2023-24 season, finishing as runners-up.
3. International Career
Maitland-Niles has represented England at various youth levels and has also earned caps for the senior national team.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Maitland-Niles has been a prominent figure in the England youth setup. In 2014, he made three appearances for the England U17 squad.
In November 2014, he was called up to the England U18 team, scoring on his debut in a 3-2 victory over Poland U18. He went on to make four appearances for the U18 side.
In September 2015, Maitland-Niles received a call-up to the England U19 squad. He marked his U19 debut by scoring in a 3-2 win over Germany U19 on 4 September 2015, and scored again the following month in a 2-0 win against Macedonia U19. He was part of the England U19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
On 1 September 2016, Maitland-Niles scored on his England U20 debut in a 1-1 draw against Brazil U20. In May 2017, he was selected for England's squad for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea. England advanced to the final, facing Venezuela. Maitland-Niles came on as a substitute in the 75th minute, helping England secure a historic 1-0 victory, marking the first time England had ever won the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
3.2. Senior National Team
On 29 August 2020, Maitland-Niles received his first call-up to the England senior squad by manager Gareth Southgate for the UEFA Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark. He made his senior international debut on 8 September 2020, coming on as a substitute against Denmark.
4. Style of Play
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is highly regarded for his exceptional versatility, being able to play in numerous positions across the pitch. He is known for his pace and energy, attributes that allow him to excel as a winger, central midfielder, full-back, or wing-back. Despite his proficiency in various roles, he has stated that he prefers playing on the wing, describing it as his "natural position."
His abilities have been recognized by his coaches. In December 2017, his then-Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, praised Maitland-Niles as "a good defender," highlighting his "sense of one against one" defensive capability and his "very quick recovery runs." This assessment underscores his strong defensive attributes in addition to his offensive contributions and adaptability.
5. Public Image and Media Appearances
Maitland-Niles' public image has been shaped by both his on-field performances and his interactions through media. He was featured in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club's 2021-22 season by providing behind-the-scenes access to the coaching staff and players. This series offered a glimpse into his life both on and off the field during that period.
In August 2021, Maitland-Niles attracted media attention when he publicly expressed his desire to leave Arsenal on social media, stating he wished to go "where he was wanted" and would play. This open declaration regarding a potential loan transfer caused a stir and highlighted the pressures faced by players regarding playing time and career progression.
6. Honours
Maitland-Niles has collected several significant titles with his clubs and national teams, alongside individual accolades.
Arsenal
- FA Cup: 2019-20
- FA Community Shield: 2017, 2020
- EFL Cup runner-up: 2017-18
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2018-19
Roma
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2021-22
Lyon
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2023-24
England U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2017
Individual
- Ipswich Town Player of the Month: September 2015
- FA Community Shield Man of the Match: 2020
7. Career Statistics
Maitland-Niles' career statistics reflect his appearances and goals across various club and international competitions.
7.1. Club Statistics
As of match played 23 February 2025.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup (Includes FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France) | League Cup (Includes EFL Cup) | Europe (Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League) | Other (Includes FA Community Shield) | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal | 2014-15 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2017-18 | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2018-19 | Premier League | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | - | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2019-20 | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 | |||
| Total | 72 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 132 | 3 | ||
| Ipswich Town (loan) | 2015-16 | Championship | 30 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 2 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2020-21 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Roma (loan) | 2021-22 | Serie A | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 12 | 0 | ||
| Southampton (loan) | 2022-23 | Premier League | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 0 | ||
| Lyon | 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 29 | 2 | |||
| 2024-25 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 29 | 1 | |||
| Total | 44 | 2 | 7 | 1 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 58 | 3 | ||||
| Career total | 188 | 4 | 25 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 272 | 8 | ||
7.2. International Statistics
As of match played 18 November 2020.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | |