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Original headline:
Everton complete signing of right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon
Source material:
Everton have completed the signing of right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon.
The 29-year-old has signed a three-year deal with his new club, and the transfer brings an end to Everton’s long search for a new right-back.
Everton had also been working in parallel on a deal for Kenny Tete, who was left out of the Fulham squad for Sunday’s defeat to Sunderland ahead of a potential move, but ended up prioritising Maitland-Niles.
The former England international has become Everton’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window.
We have completed the signing of Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a permanent transfer from Olympique Lyonnais for an undisclosed fee.
Welcome to Everton, Ainsley! 🔵
— Everton (@Everton) September 1, 2026
The Merseyside club have been in the market for a new right-back this summer, with club captain Seamus Coleman having called time on his 17-year stint at Everton at the end of last season. The Athletic reported earlier on Tuesday that Scotland international Nathan Patterson is also closing in on a permanent move to Italian side Torino.
Former Arsenal player Maitland-Niles had one year to run on his Lyon deal and has been the subject of long-standing interest from Everton. He has five England caps, the last of which came in November 2020, and is also capable of playing as a central midfielder.
Everton’s long right-back search reaches conclusion
“All I want to do is go where I’m wanted & where I’m going to play,” wrote Maitland-Niles in August 2021 as he attempted to force a move from Arsenal to Everton.
The idea at the time was for the Merseyside club to strengthen their stocks at full-back and begin to plan for life without long-serving club captain Coleman. So there is a certain irony that we are here, five years on, with Maitland-Niles finally primed to get his move to Merseyside, in effect as Coleman’s replacement.
Everton considered a number of other options late in the window, including Tete of Fulham, as they sought a new right-back. Maitland-Niles, a long-standing target, appealed due to his contractual situation — he had one year left in France — and versatility.
Alongside central midfield, he is also seen as an option to cover at left-back, where Everton have also been short after sanctioning the loan departure of Adam Aznou to Malaga.
Provided all goes to plan with the medical, Everton’s long search for a new right-back may be about to draw to an end.
