RB Leipzig poised to take Neil El Aynaoui on season-long loan from AS Roma

RB Leipzig have reached a verbal agreement with AS Roma to sign Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui on a season-long loan, bringing the 25-year-old closer to a move to the Bundesliga.

The deal is expected to cost RB Leipzig €4m for the loan, with the German club also holding an option to buy El Aynaoui for €25m next summer.

The agreement between the two clubs was reached on Sunday evening, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sport Germany, following a report from Sky Italia. The final details are still being completed, while El Aynaoui is expected to undergo a medical and sign his contract shortly.

Those formalities must be concluded before the transfer window closes if the move is to be completed on time.

El Aynaoui had been RB Leipzig’s preferred target during the summer as they looked to strengthen the central midfield positions. Plettenberg reported that the club viewed him as a player capable of operating either as a number six or a number eight.

The Morocco international joined AS Roma in the summer of 2025 after leaving French club Lens. He signed a five-year contract with the Serie A side at that time.

A deal structured initially as a loan would allow RB Leipzig to assess the midfielder over the course of the season before deciding whether to activate the €25m purchase option. However, the transfer cannot yet be considered fully complete while the remaining negotiations, medical examination and contractual arrangements are outstanding.

Plettenberg’s social media update described the move as: “Neil El Aynaoui to RB Leipzig – DONE DEAL ✔️Verbal agreement reached with AS Roma last night, following Sky Italia. Loan fee worth €4m, with an option to buy for €25m next summer.Last details between the clubs. Medical and signing are planned soon to complete the deal…”

El Aynaoui is regarded as one of the established members of the Morocco squad and would provide RB Leipzig with another option in the heart of midfield if the transfer is finalised.

The move would also see him switch from AS Roma to the Bundesliga only a year after arriving in Italy from Lens. For now, the two clubs continue to work through the final parts of the agreement before the player can complete the medical and put pen to paper.

The source article also directed readers to the Kooora forums for further discussion of the transfer and related football news.