Neil El Aynaoui

Neil El Aynaoui

El Aynaoui training with Lens in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Neil Yoni El Aynaoui
Date of birth	(2001-07-02) 2 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Nancy, France
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Lens
Number	23
Youth career
2009–2020	Nancy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Nancy B	10	(0)
2021–2023	Nancy	67	(6)
2023–	Lens B	1	(2)
2023–	Lens	33	(2)
International career^‡
2023–	Morocco U23	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:44, 14 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:15, 25 November 2023 (UTC)

Neil Yoni El Aynaoui (Arabic: نائل العيناوي; born 2 July 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lens. Born in France, he is a youth international for Morocco. El Aynaoui can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

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]

International career

Born in France, El Aynaoui holds French and Moroccan nationalities.^[5] He was called up to the Morocco U23s for a set of friendlies in September 2023.^[6]

Personal life

El Aynaoui is the son of the retired Moroccan tennis player Younes El Aynaoui.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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	8	1	1	0	0	0	9	1
	Total		33	2	2	0	5	0	40	2
Career total			100	10	2	0	5	0	107	10

1. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

1. "Neil El Aynaoui signs his first professional contract with AS Nancy". 3 June 2021.
2. "Nancy vs. Toulouse - 31 July 2021". Soccerway.
3. "Mercato : Neil El Aynaoui (Nancy) rejoint Lens". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 29 June 2023.
4. "Neil El Aynaoui : "C'est incroyable de marquer pour Lens"". OneFootball. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
5. "Neil EL AYNAOUI -".
6. "Neil el Aynaoui est devenu officiellement international marocain U23". 8 September 2023.
7. "Neil El Aynaoui signs three years with AS Nancy". Bergaag. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

External links

• Neil El Aynaoui at Soccerway