Neil El Aynaoui Arrives in Rome Ahead of Major Move from Lens

AS Roma are set to welcome Neil El Aynaoui as their first signing of the summer, following his arrival last night in the Italian capital. The Moroccan midfielder is expected to sign a five-year contract, sealing a transfer worth €22 million plus an additional €3 million in potential add-ons, as reported in a recent update.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Neil El Aynaoui landed at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport late last night, greeted by eager Roma supporters. He spent time with fans, signing autographs and posing for photos, before preparing for his medical tests and finalizing personal terms today.

This transfer marks Roma’s opening move of the summer, concluding lengthy negotiations with Lens which saw the French club hold firm on their valuation before finally agreeing to the deal. The agreement includes a five-year contract for El Aynaoui, reportedly earning him €1.5 million per season. According to reports, El Aynaoui prefers this move to Roma despite interest from other clubs.

NEIL EL AYNAOUI: WHY ROMA MADE THEIR MOVE

El Aynaoui’s consistent performances for Lens last season made him an attractive target for Roma. The 23-year-old midfielder made over 35 appearances in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign, contributing with decisive midfield play and helping Lens finish 7th in the French top flight. Reports confirm that he scored eight goals and provided one assist in that season.

Meanwhile, Roma finished fifth in Serie A last season and narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. New club director Frederic Massara sees El Aynaoui as a key piece to strengthen Roma’s midfield and give coach Gianpiero Gasperini, who comes from coaching Atalanta, more options for the coming campaign.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

El Aynaoui will complete his medical at Roma’s training center today, after which the contract signing and official club presentation will follow. As he becomes Roma’s first signing of the summer, attention turns to integrating him ahead of their Serie A opener. Roma’s next fixture is a preseason friendly against Fiorentina next week.

They’ll be hoping El Aynaoui can help bridge the gap to the top four—Roma are targeting Champions League qualification, after ending last season just behind fourth-placed Juventus. Lens, having lost a key midfielder, now look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Ligue 1 campaign, where they face a challenging start against one of the teams that qualified for Europe, Lyon.