RB Leipzig has secured its eighth signing of the summer with the arrival of Neil El Aynaoui. The 25-year-old Moroccan international midfielder joins from AS Roma on an initial loan deal, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday. The loan fee is four million euros, with a purchase option set at 25 million euros. El Aynaoui started all six matches for Morocco in their World Cup campaign.
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer (42) expressed his satisfaction with the new addition. "Neil brings international experience and a strong physical presence," Schäfer told reporters. The club begins the new season in third place with three points from one match, having scored three goals without conceding any.
What role will El Aynaoui play in the squad?
Neil El Aynaoui arrives at Leipzig as a defensive midfielder. His role will be to organize play and provide defensive protection. With his World Cup experience, he is expected to add stability to Marco Rose's team. Leipzig's current squad list shows a well-equipped roster that the Moroccan must integrate into.
The Red Bulls sit third in the Bundesliga table. From one game they have taken three points, with a goal difference of 3:0. The next fixture is on September 5th against 15th-placed Werder Bremen. All upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures page.
How has RB Leipzig's transfer summer unfolded?
The signing of El Aynaoui is part of an extensive rebuilding phase. Alongside the Moroccan, goalkeeper Örjan Nyland, defenders Abdoul Koné and Maxime Estéve, midfielder Rocco Reitz, and attacking players Brajan Gruda (loan), Christopher Nkunku (loan), and Marc Guiu have all joined Leipzig this transfer window. The club has strengthened in several areas of the team.
There have also been several departures. Nineteen-year-old Joyeux Masanka Bungi moved on loan with an option to buy to VfB Stuttgart II. Ayodele Thomas (19), signed for 400,000 euros in winter, transferred for around one million euros to Nijmegen. Suleman Sani (20) moved for up to eight million euros to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. El Chadaille Bitshiabu (21) joined Galatasaray Istanbul on loan, also with a 25 million euro purchase option.
What does this mean for the current season?
With the acquisition of Neil El Aynaoui, RB Leipzig has temporarily concluded its midfield transfer business. The team has made a positive start to the season and aims to maintain this momentum. The current standings table shows the tight competition at the top of the Bundesliga.
Another potential transfer involves Arthur Vermeeren (21). Negotiations with the Belgian midfielder are currently stalled, but the club is working on a solution. The next challenge awaits on September 5th in Bremen. A victory there could temporarily propel Leipzig to the top of the table.
