RB Leipzig have officially confirmed the signing of Moroccan international Neil El Aynaoui from AS Roma. The 25-year-old central midfielder joins Leipzig on loan for the 2026/27 campaign. Sky Germany reports that RB will pay Roma a €4m loan fee and possess an option to complete a permanent transfer for a further €25m next summer.
The deal completes a move Get German Football News reported was approaching completion during the final weekend of the transfer window. Leipzig had specifically sought another midfielder capable of helping immediately after injuries further reduced Martín Demichelis’ options in the centre of the pitch.
Christoph Baumgartner remains unavailable, while Assan Ouédraogo suffered another injury setback during preseason. Xaver Schlager also left Leipzig for Nottingham Forest this summer, and Arthur Vermeeren’s future has remained uncertain.
Rocco Reitz arrived from Borussia Mönchengladbach for more than €20m, but Leipzig’s increasingly stretched midfield still prompted sporting executive Marcel Schäfer to act before the deadline.
El Aynaoui arrives as immediate midfield reinforcement
El Aynaoui offers considerably more experience than the typical developmental signing associated with Leipzig. The Morocco international only joined Roma from RC Lens last summer, with the Serie A club paying approximately €23.5m for his services.
He made 34 competitive appearances during his sole season in the Italian capital, scoring twice and registering two assists. Twenty-five of those appearances came in Serie A. His estimated market value doubled from €15m to €30m during the campaign.
El Aynaoui also arrives in Saxony following an intensive period of international football. The midfielder has collected 22 senior caps for Morocco and featured prominently at both the Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup.
He started every Morocco match at both tournaments and missed only seven minutes of action across the two competitions. His experience also extends to European club competition, with the midfielder already possessing Champions League and Europa League appearances.
That pedigree explains why Leipzig regard the loan as more than a depth move necessitated by injuries.
As detailed in Get German Football News’s 2026/27 RB Leipzig tactical preview, Demichelis spent preparation working toward a high-intensity 4-3-3 built around aggressive pressing, quick vertical transitions and a positionally disciplined holding midfielder.
The problem throughout preseason was personnel.
Ouédraogo had emerged as one of Leipzig’s most impressive midfielders before injury interrupted his preparation. Baumgartner remained in rehabilitation, while Reitz’s integration was delayed after illness. Nicolas Seiwald, Ezechiel Banzuzi and Brajan Gruda consequently assumed considerable responsibility as Demichelis experimented with different midfield configurations.
El Aynaoui now gives the Argentine another player capable of immediately covering the ground and defensive workload demanded by the system.
Ayodele Thomas returns to Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen
Leipzig have also confirmed the permanent departure of Dutch attacking prospect Ayodele Thomas. The 19-year-old returns to his homeland to join Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen, where he has signed a contract through 2030. Kicker reports that NEC will pay approximately €1m for Thomas.
The transfer ends an extremely brief Leipzig spell. Thomas only arrived from PSV Eindhoven’s second team in February, signing a contract through 2031. Leipzig paid approximately €400,000 for the winger.
Thomas never made a competitive appearance for RB’s senior team and now departs after only seven months. The reported figures nevertheless leave Leipzig with a modest transfer profit on the teenager.
NEC also offer Thomas a substantially clearer route into senior football and will compete in the Europa League this season.
Statements on El Aynaoui’s Leipzig arrival
“With Neil El Aynaoui, we’re getting a player who fits our profile and our playing philosophy very well,” RB sporting executive Marcel Schäfer noted in a club statement. “He brings tremendous running power and aggression, is very intense against the ball, and can simultaneously use his quality on the ball to provide dynamism and solutions in midfield.
“He is present on both sides of the ball and can cover large spaces,” Schäfer continued. “At the World Cup, Neil once again demonstrated that he can bring his qualities to the highest level. At 25, he already possesses considerable experience. We’ve been following Neil closely for several years, so we’re delighted that we’ve now been able to bring him to RB Leipzig.”
“RB Leipzig not only have an excellent reputation, but the RBL style of play suits me and my strengths very well,” El Aynaoui himself added. “The discussions with the club officials and with Martín Demichelis were very convincing from the beginning and made the decision easy for me. I’m very excited about this new challenge and can’t wait to get onto the pitch with the team and help us achieve our objectives.”
