Deadline Day is heating up at Arsenal, with news of players coming in and out.
We’ve already reported how the club are hoping to push through a deal to sign Douglas Luiz today, now it seems a couple of players will be leaving the club.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has joined Southampton on a one year loan, with an option to buy the player.
Arsenal have triggered the option to extend Maitland-Niles’ contract by a further year, meaning he is technically an Arsenal player until 2024. This ensures Maitland-Niles will have some value on the completion of his loan at Southampton.
It is not clear what the value is on the option to buy Maitland-Niles for Southampton, but we wish him all the best during his loan spell.
Elsewhere, another right-back is set to leave. Hector Bellerin has been widely linked with joining Real Betis this summer but on deadline day it appears that he will be joining Barcelona on a free transfer.
Hector Bellerin heading to Barca on a free. Auba's departure is freeing up the wages to allow them to make the move.
— PB (@OliPriceBates) September 1, 2022
Whilst Arsenal will not get a transfer fee for Bellerin, his wages, thought to be in excess of £100,000 per week, will see Arsenal make further savings on their wage bill.
The news of Bellerin to Barcelona is now widespread across Europe and has come from sources including Gianluca Di Marzio.