Neil El Aynaoui

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.

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
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 25 (1)
International career‡
2023– Morocco U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:15, 25 November 2023 (UTC)

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 28 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coupe de France Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nancy B 2020–21 National 3 40——40
2021–22 National 3 50——50
2022–23 CFA 334——334
Total 424——424
Nancy 2021–22 Ligue 2 24200—242
Lens B 2023–24 National 3 12——12
Lens 2023–24 Ligue 1 251105[lower-alpha 1]0311
Career total 9291050989
  1. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League

Notes

    References
    1. "Neil El Aynaoui signs his first professional contract with AS Nancy". 3 June 2021.
    2. "Nancy vs. Toulouse - 31 July 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
    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. https://www.unfp.org/joueur/neil-el-aynaoui-21822/
    6. https://www.lensois.com/neil-el-aynaoui-est-devenu-officiellement-international-marocain-u23/
    7. "Neil El Aynaoui signs three years with AS Nancy". Bergaag. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
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