PROFILE | Neil El Aynaoui – Lens’ bargain surprise package | OneFootball

Andy Diouf was signed to be the star of Lens’ midfield in the summer of 2023. The Frenchman arrived off the back of a highly successful spell at Basel, during which he established himself as one of the hottest prospects in European football. In the same summer, former Leicester City midfielder Nampalys Mendy was also signed. An experienced midfielder, he too was expected to feature prominently. However, Diouf failed to deliver on his promise, showing flashes of brilliance but never on a consistent basis, whilst Mendy went on to make just 19 starts in all competitions.

The mainstay in Franck Haise’s midfield was neither Diouf nor Mendy but rather the unfamiliar Neil El Aynaoui, signed in the same summer for just €600,000 from AS Nancy. He earned more minutes than both Diouf and Mendy. Having established himself in the lower tiers of French football, it was a huge step up for the Morocco youth international, however, at times he made it look so effortless. He is a no-thrills, no-spills midfielder, who keeps it ticking, puts in the hard yards, and constantly shows the intensity that his teammates, at times, lacked.

It is out of possession that his work was most appreciated by Lens and in possession where some of his technical weaknesses were exposed, but having made the steep jump from the Championnat National, the third tier of French football, to the Champions League, that he wasn’t a weak link in the Lens side is telling in itself and a testament to El Aynaoui’s ability to go unphased by the step up.

Knee injury foils El Aynaoui’s Monaco switch

His performances in his debut season for Les Sang et Or caught the eye of Monaco, who were looking to recruit a combative midfielder following the departures of Youssouf Fofana and Mohamed Camara. A €20m deal was even agreed with the Principality club, only for the midfielder to then fail a medical. Les Monégasques were insistent that he needed surgery on a knee issue. The transfer was therefore aborted and El Aynaoui remained with Lens.

Ultimately, however, he did not undergo knee surgery, although he did miss the start of the Ligue 1 season. A muscle tear suffered in September has proved a further setback for El Ayanoui, whose injuries have prevented him from building on last season’s breakthrough. He has made just two starts in Ligue 1 this season as he looks to regain fitness and form and carve out a spot in Will Still’s midfield.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle