Roma reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Maitland-Niles on loan.

The 24-year-old is set to join Roma on a temporary basis until the end of the season and it is anticipated that he will make his debut in Sunday's Serie A game at home to Juventus.

Maitland-Niles was seen posing for photographers after leaving the airport in Rome before getting into a car. AS Roma initial proposal included an option to buy the 24-year-old at the end of the season, but this was turned down by the Gunners, although the Italian side are still interested in signing him permanently in the summer if they can raise the funds.

The Serie A club will pay his wages in full, and will also pay the Gunners a loan fee plus bonuses.

The move is dependent upon the player visiting the Italian embassy in London to secure a work permit.

Allowing Maitland-Niles ot go is seen by many as a sure sign that Arsenal will be signing a midfield replacement in the current market.

They are short of cover in that area of the pitch, having lost both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny to the African Cup of Nations. That leave only Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lakonga as recognised central midfield players. Martin Ødegaard or Emile Smith-Rowe could drop back there, it would rob the team of some of their attacking options further forward.

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