Everton have agreed a €5m deal with Lyon to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles, according to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.
Everton have moved quickly for the versatile former Arsenal player, who is now travelling from France to the UK ahead of completing the move.
McAdam reports that an agreement has been reached with Lyon for €5m, with Maitland-Niles into the final year of his contract with the French club.
The 29-year-old can operate at right-back as well as in midfield, giving David Moyes another option in two areas of the squad that have been under consideration throughout the summer.
Everton finally get Maitland-Niles
This is far from the first time Maitland-Niles has been on Everton’s radar.
The Toffees tried to sign him from Arsenal five years ago, only for the Gunners to block a Deadline Day move in the summer of 2021.
Interest resurfaced earlier this summer, with ReadEverton reporting in June that Maitland-Niles was among the players being monitored as Moyes looked for reinforcements at right-back.
Everton have now returned and appear to have got their man.
Maitland-Niles left Arsenal to join Lyon on a free transfer in 2023 and has since established himself as a regular in France.
He made 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season and has already featured four times in Champions League qualifying this term.
His arrival would be particularly useful given Nathan Patterson is set to complete a permanent move to Torino, while Everton’s attempt to sign Fulham right-back Kenny Tete has run into late difficulties.
At €5m, Maitland-Niles also represents a relatively inexpensive way of adding Premier League experience and versatility to Moyes’ squad.
There is still the medical and the usual formalities to complete, but an agreement between the clubs means Everton’s long-running interest in Maitland-Niles finally looks set to result in a transfer.
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