Roma officially announced on Sunday that Niel El Aynawy has joined from Lens. The two parties have signed a five-year contract, which will be valid until June 30, 2030.

The 24-year-old Neil El Ainawi is the first signing Roma has made under Gasperini. His fixed transfer fee is 23 million euros, plus a floating clause of 2 million euros.

El Ainawi was born on July 2, 2001 in Nancy, France. His father is Younis Aynaoui, a former professional tennis player from Morocco. He grew up in the Nancy youth training system and made his professional debut in Ligue 2 on July 31, 2021 for the first team.

In July 2023, El Ainawi transferred to Lens for 600,000 euros. He mainly plays as a central midfielder in Lens. So far, he has made 56 appearances, scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists.

Joining Roma this time means that El Ainawi will play in Serie A for the first time. He also said goodbye to Lens through a statement: "In fact, I have integrated into the Lens family. I was a little scared when I left Nancy because Nancy is my comfort zone and I feel at home there. But after coming to Lens, I found that it is the perfect club in the minds of everyone in France. I say this not because I played in Lens, but because it is true. The journey to Lens is an extraordinary experience for me."

"At Lens I have not only grown as a player, but also as a man. This club, these fans and everyone who accompanies me every day will always remain in my heart. I have done my best on and off the pitch just to make you proud. Your passion, dedication and generosity make you unique. For this, I sincerely thank you. Thank you, Lens."

According to the official statement, El Ainawi will wear the No. 8 jersey in Roma.