Neil El Aynaoui

Neil El Aynaoui is a French-born midfielder who developed in the AS Nancy Lorraine academy after joining at eight. He made his professional debut for Nancy in Ligue 2 on 31 July 2021, beginning a progression from the club’s youth system into senior football. In June 2023, El Aynaoui moved to Lens, where his role grew from squad option into a regular midfield presence. His performances during the 2024–25 season earned him a move to AS Roma in July 2025, adding an Italian chapter to his career. El Aynaoui has also been involved with Morocco, reflecting his connection to the Atlas Lions. At 185 centimetres, he combines midfield distribution, ball progression and defensive work, operating as either a deep-lying or box-to-box midfielder.