Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Maitland-Niles's current-season form is level with last season (Season 43→45), while his Rating eased 70→63. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Lyon	1	0	0	6.6	—	—
2025/26	Lyon · 4th	30	1	4	6.74	63	45
2024/25	Lyon · 6th	34	1	4	6.98	70	43
2023/24	Lyon · 6th	23	1	4	6.95	71	32
2022/23	SouthamptonLoan · 20th	22	0	0	6.67	71	27

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 8 earlier seasons and 6 youth-team spells in the full career.

England · international

Side	Apps	G
England	5	0
England U21	3	0
England U20	7	0
England U19	8	1
England U17	1	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Key starterCentral midfielder

A. Maitland-Niles is a 28-year-old central midfielder at Lyon, rated 62.5 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 50th of 122 on scout potential in the Ligue 1. An experienced operator, he has been an ever-present this season (81.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.4 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Maitland-Niles.

Judged on this season alone, Maitland-Niles graded 45 — a strong campaign that ranks top 20% of the 21 central midfielders in the Ligue 1, on 1 goal, 4 assists and 3.404 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 43 → 45). Across the 6 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 63, top 24% of the 21 central midfielders in the Ligue 1. At 28 Maitland-Niles is in his prime years, and a market index of 26.2 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Maitland-Niles is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2022/234 clubs

Current potentialTop 24% central midfielders · Ligue 1 Current seasonTop 20% central midfielders · Ligue 1 4th-best central midfielder in the Ligue 1 50th in the Ligue 1 · potential 5th-highest potential central midfielder in the Ligue 1

62.5

Ratingi

5th of 21 central midfielders

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

81.2%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.4

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Lyon finished 4th of 18 · an upper-table side

Apps

3.4

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.4 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 12 clean sheets across 30 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (4th of 18) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 4 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 81.2% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.18 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.
Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 88.4/100).

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 62.5, Maitland-Niles carries the 5th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Ligue 1 (top 24%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.4 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %81.2%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.036

Assists / 900.145

Goal contribution / 900.181

Defensive actions / 903.404

Player flow

Goal involvements5

Cards / 900.217

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~44), then tapers with age. At 28, Maitland-Niles sits on 26.2, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Maitland-Niles's projected Rating — 62.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Ligue 1 with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists4

Defending

Tackles57

Interceptions33

Blocks4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards0

Transfer history

LyonAug 2023 – nowFree

Southampton(on loan)Sept 2022 – Aug 2023

Arsenal(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Sept 2022

AS Roma(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

Arsenal(back from loan)Jul 2021 – Jan 2022

West Brom(on loan)Feb 2021 – Jul 2021

Ipswich(on loan)Jul 2015 – Feb 2021

Arsenaluntil Jul 2015

About A. Maitland-Niles

Ainsley Cory Maitland-Niles is a 28-year-old central midfielder who plays for Lyon, born on August 29, 1997 in London, standing 177 cm tall. He is from England. Lyon currently sit 4th of 18 in the Ligue 1.

This season

In the current season, A. Maitland-Niles has made 30 appearances with 1 goal and 4 assists across 2,485 minutes, averaging a 6.97 match rating over his last 3 rated games, with 6 yellow cards. Though primarily a central midfielder, he has also lined up in defence this season.

Recent matches

August 18, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Fenerbahçe (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
August 11, 2026: 3-0 win at home vs Sparta Praha (76 minutes, 1 goal, 7.6 rating)
August 4, 2026: 1-2 loss away at Sparta Praha (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)

A. Maitland-Niles's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Lyon face Le Havre at home in the Ligue 1.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates A. Maitland-Niles at 62.5 with a Season form score of 45, ranking 50th of 122 central midfielders in the Ligue 1. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 20 career titles — among them the Florida Cup and the Emirates Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 14 recorded seasons, A. Maitland-Niles has totalled 281 club appearances with 5 goals and 16 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 34 appearances for Lyon.

A. Maitland-Niles's career has also included time at Southampton, Arsenal, AS Roma, West Brom and Ipswich.

On the international stage, A. Maitland-Niles has represented England, England U21, England U20, England U19, England U17 — 24 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Lyon finished 4th of 18 · an upper-table side

Strengths

Watch points