This season, the midfielder’s opportunities at Arsenal have been limited, with Arteta not giving him enough playing time and turning his back on him for complaining.
Jose Mourinho, the manager of Roma, has been looking to bolster his ranks with the Gunners academy graduate.
And, according to Fabrizio Romano, his team was able to secure a loan agreement until June.
According to the Italian transfer expert, his contract has now been registered on the Serie A system.
He goes on to say that the transfer is simply a loan transfer with NO option to buy.
Maitland-Niles has completed his medical in Rome, and a decision is expected soon.
In response to speculation about the 24-year-old, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said yesterday: “Ainsley came to me and explained why he thought the best thing for him in his career right now is to move away.”
“He believes that the opportunity to relocate to Rome and work for Jose is a fantastic one.”
“We had this conversation in the summer, and we decided to keep him at the club and evaluate the situation in December, but with the amount of minutes he’s played, he’s entitled to that opportunity.”
“When a player feels that way and has such a strong argument as he does, it’s very difficult to turn it down, so we decided to let him go and wish him the best.”
Maitland-Niles has made 132 appearances for his boyhood club, including a start in the 2020 FA Cup final and five England caps in the months that followed.
He has since fallen out of favor, appearing in just two Premier League games this season.
Maitland-Niles has only played 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, as he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.
Although he prefers to play in midfield, Maitland-Niles’ versatility could be extremely beneficial to Roma manager Jose Mourinho.
Maitland-Niles can play as a wing-back on either flank and will no doubt relish the prospect of regular playing time at Roma, where he will join fellow Englishmen Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham.
Mourinho’s team is currently seventh in Serie A and will be hoping that Maitland-Niles’ arrival will give them a boost.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom, and Maitland-Niles’ contract with Arsenal expires in 2023.
Roma will have to raise funds through player sales after spending more than £30 million on Tammy Abraham in the summer in order to afford a permanent move at a later date.
Maitland-Niles joins compatriots Abraham and Chris Smalling in Rome.
Roma are currently seventh in Serie A, six points behind the top four teams.
