Everton add former Arsenal player with over 100 Premier League appearances to transfer shortlist

Everton are interested in signing former Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles, talkSPORT understands.

The Toffees are looking to add to David Moyes‘ squad this summer, and Maitland-Niles has emerged as a potential target.

Any move for the 27-year-old is in the balance, with Lyon in a desperate financial condition.

The Ligue 1 club have survived relegation to the second division after an appeal, but several of the club’s players are up for sale.

The Toffees have also registered an interest in Maitland-Niles’ teammate, Malick Fofana, but they face competition for his signature.

After being taken over by the Friedkin Group earlier this year, the club have signed Thierno Barry from Villarreal and Mark Travers as a back-up to Jordan Pickford.

talkSPORT understands a deal for Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou has been agreed.

The young defender will cost £8million and will join the Toffees after completing a medical.

But the recruitment drive may not be done yet.

Maitland-Niles joined Lyon in the summer of 2023 after his contract at Arsenal expired.

The 27-year-old has two years remaining on his deal, though it isn’t clear what sort of fee Lyon are looking for.

The player himself made over 100 Premier League appearances, so would add some experience to the side.

Throughout his career, Maitland-Niles has played as a left-back, right-back, central midfielder and on either wing.

During his time with Arsenal, with whom he made 132 appearances for, he mainly operated anywhere down the right-hand side.

He was forced to find a new club in the summer of 2023 after the Gunners didn’t activate their one-year option inserted into Maitland-Niles’ deal.

He joined the club as a six-year-old, and helped the club win the FA Cup in the 2019/20 season.

But several loan moves to West Brom, Southampton and Roma followed before he joined Lyon permanently.

He has made 73 appearances for the French giants, and a return to England could be on the cards.

Maitland-Niles returned to play Arsenal in the summer of 2024 as the Gunners faced Lyon in pre-season.

Speaking about leaving his boyhood club, Maitland-Niles said: “I’m very mature in my mind and I understand how football works.

“Sometimes, it’s time to let go of a club that has been so dear to you and you had so many years with.

“So it was more of a process of trying to move on, both for my family and myself.

“Obviously, my contract expired anyway, so I had to find something that was concrete and solid and I felt like Lyon was the best fit.”

And if Everton formalise their interest, he could be returning to the Emirates as a Toffee.