Neil Yoni El Aynaoui (Arabic: نائل العيناوي; born 2 July 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie A club Roma. Born in France, he is a youth international for Morocco.
El Aynaoui joined the youth academy of Nancy when he was 8, and signed his first professional contract with the club on 3 June 2021.[1] He made his professional debut with Nancy in a 4–0 Ligue 2 loss to Toulouse on 31 July 2021.[2]
On 29 June 2023, El Aynaoui signed for Ligue 1 club Lens on a four-year contract.[3] He scored his first goal on 28 October 2023 against FC Nantes.[4]
On 20 July 2025, El Aynaoui moved to Roma in Italy on a five-year contract.[5] He made his debut for the club against Bologna on matchday 1 of the Serie A, by coming off the bench in the 60th minute in place of El Shaarawy.[6]
Born in France, El Aynaoui holds French and Moroccan nationalities.[7] He was called up to the Morocco U23s for a set of friendlies in September 2023.[8]
El Aynaoui is the son of the retired Moroccan tennis player Younes El Aynaoui.[9]
| Club | Season | League | Coupe de France | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nancy B | 2020–21 | National 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | National 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | CFA | 33 | 4 | — | — | 33 | 4 | |||
| Total | 42 | 4 | — | — | 42 | 4 | ||||
| Nancy | 2021–22 | Ligue 2 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 2 | |
| Lens B | 2023–24 | National 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | ||
| Lens | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 8 | |
| Total | 48 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 9 | ||
| Roma | 2025-26 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | --- | --- | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 116 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 123 | 14 | ||
