Five million, and a contract running out
Ten months. That is all Ainsley Maitland-Niles had left on his Lyon deal, and everyone at the club knew what that meant.
Everton have struck an agreement with Olympique Lyonnais for the 29-year-old right-back. Sky Sports puts the fee at roughly 5 million euros. Banking anything at all for a player heading towards a free transfer counts as a win for the OL hierarchy on deadline day.
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Lyon needed the cash more than the player
OL are working under a hard number this summer: something close to 50 million euros in sales to square the books. Losing the Champions League play-off to Fenerbahce turned an awkward target into an urgent one.
Maitland-Niles had sat on the recruitment staff’s list of departures for weeks. Zachary Athekame’s loan arrival crowded the right-back slot. A section of the support had made their feelings clear too, which never helps a player’s case.
An Arsenal kid heads home
Most of his career was spent in north London. He started the 2020 FA Cup final win over Chelsea, still the standout line on his CV, and managers valued him because he could fill in from the right flank all the way into central midfield.
Everton hand him a return to the division he knows best at an age where several useful seasons should remain. Lyon are left with Athekame, the young Steeve Kango and Clinton Mata as cover on that side. Thinner, yes. Slightly less broke, also yes, with only hours to go before the French window shuts.
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