Former Arsenal Man Unveiled by French Club With Unusual Video

Former Arsenal Man Unveiled by French Club With Unusual Video

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at August 8, 2023 at 1:28 PM
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  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles is officially an Olympique Lyonnais player
  • The French club introduced the Englishman with a bizarre video
  • 25-year-old Maitland-Niles is now playing for a sixth football club

Former Arsenal player, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, has joined Olympique Lyon on a free transfer. The former England man signed a four-year deal with the Ligue 1 side until 2027.

The club announced this signing with a hilarious video, perhaps poking fun at England's love for tea and scones.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Arsenal, Olympique Lyon, Ligue 1, Premier League
Ainsley Maitland-Niles spent last season at Southampton. Photos by Olympique Lyon.
Source: Getty Images

In the video, the former Gunners midfielder is approached by a waiter who asks him if he is enjoying the tea. Maitland-Niles responds that he loves it but wants to try the Lyon version.

The waiter then takes the mug, which has the face of the late Queen Elizabeth II on it, and other items including a tin of Twining's tea, before giving him Lyon branded glass.

Maitland-Niles on joining Lyon

The 25-year-old made 132 appearances for Arsenal but failed to nail down a place in the first team. The Gunners academy graduate failed to secure regular starts, especially under coach, Mikel Arteta.

He is Lyon's 4th signing of the summer, per Transfermarkt.

“I am very happy to sign here. If I had been told at the age of 6 that I would one day be at Olympique Lyonnais, I could never have imagined it! I absolutely had to seize this opportunity. My favourite post? Midfielder. I hope to impose myself in this position, but I am ready to work anywhere to help the team," he said per Lyon's website.

Maitland-Niles will play alongside former Arsenal striker, Alexandre Lacazette. The French side finished seventh last season and will miss European football for the first time in 24 years.

Arsenal facing Community Shield 'curse'

Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported Arsenal are facing an alleged curse after their Community Shield triumph on August 6.

Many Gunners fans are hoping this triumph helps catapult the North London side to Premier League glory next season.

However, this may not be the case according to some, going by the history in the top flight of previous winners of the trophy.

Authors
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Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.