This is a new major step in the career of Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan midfielder, until now under contract with RC Lens, has just officially signed up with AS Roma. The 24-year-old signed a long-term contract which will link him to the Italian club until June 2030. He will wear number 8 for the Giallorossi.
Born July 2, 2001 in Nancy, Neil El Aynaoui is not unknown in the world of high-level sport. He is the son of Younes El Aynaoui, a former Moroccan tennis legend, famous for his performances on the ATP circuit in the 1990s and 2000s, where he notably reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the US Open. If his father shone on the courts, Neil chose football. But he seems to have inherited the requirement, the mentality and the elegance which characterized his father’s game.
During his two seasons in the blood and gold colors, El Aynaoui established himself as a key element of the midfield. With a great vision of the game, capable of projecting himself forward while remaining reliable defensively, he has played 130 official matches and scored 17 goals – impressive statistics for a player often playing a relay or sentinel role.
His regular performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League have naturally caught the eye of foreign clubs. It was ultimately AS Roma, attracted by its versatile profile and its ability to evolve in different tactical schemes, which won the bet. The Roman club, looking for reinforcements to densify its midfield, sees in him a player with high potential capable of imposing himself in a championship as demanding as Serie A.
Under the orders of coach Daniele De Rossi, himself a former emblematic midfielder of the club, Neil El Aynaoui will have the opportunity to evolve in an environment conducive to his progress. He will also discover the Olimpico, its passionate fans and the boiling rivalry of the Roman derby – elements which should fuel his desire to shine at the highest level.
Moroccan international, El Aynaoui also hopes that this transfer will allow him to take a new step and establish himself permanently in the selection of the Atlas Lions, as major continental and
AZ-EDDINE AALLABOUCH
