On Sunday, July 20, 2025, AS Roma announced the signing of Neil El Aynaoui, who joins the Italian club in a permanent transfer from RC Lens.
Born on July 2, 2001, in Nancy to Moroccan parents, El Aynaoui completed all his youth development at his hometown club. After progressing through all the ranks with Les Chardons, he made his first-team debut in 2021. In 2023, he signed with RC Lens, where he quickly became a key figure in midfield. Over two seasons in the North, he made 130 appearances across all competitions and scored 17 goals, demonstrating his influence and ability to push forward.
A versatile midfielder known for his work rate, technical quality, and positional sense, El Aynaoui will bring a dynamic profile to Gian Piero Gasperini’s setup. He will wear the number 8 shirt and fits into AS Roma’s strategy of relying on young, experienced talents to build their midfield.
With this signing, the Giallorossi confirm their ambition to strengthen their sporting project sustainably around a coach eager to blend youth and experience.
