Neil El Aynaoui (born 2 July 2001, age 24) is a Moroccan central midfielder with Roma, where he wears number eight. His current market value is around £17m, according to Transfermarkt.
His most productive league season came at Lens in 2024-25, when he scored eight goals in 24 appearances. For a midfielder, that was a useful return rather than a footnote, and it helped move him into a stronger level of weekly scrutiny.
At Roma in 2025-26, El Aynaoui has remained a regular first-team presence. He has made 25 Serie A appearances, scoring once, and has also played nine times in the Europa League, adding another goal. Across all competitions for Roma, he has 41 appearances and two goals.
He has also been involved with Morocco this season, featuring in World Cup qualifying and making one World Cup appearance. His career is still developing, but the shape is clear enough: a productive spell at Lens, followed by regular football at Roma and continued international involvement.
