Mohamed Elneny

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2 Apr 2024

Mohamed Elneny

Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny, born on July 11, 1992, is an Egyptian professional footballer renowned for his role as a defensive midfielder. He currently plies his trade for Premier League club Arsenal and represents the Egypt national team.
Elneny initiated his senior career in the Egyptian Premier League before making a significant move to Swiss club Basel in January 2013. During his tenure at Basel, he achieved remarkable success, securing eight honors, including the Swiss Super League title in each of his four seasons with the club. His consistent performances and contributions were instrumental in Basel's triumphs.

Elneny made a notable transfer to Arsenal, where he continued to showcase his defensive prowess and tactical acumen. His adeptness in shielding the defense and distributing the ball efficiently earned him a vital role within the Arsenal squad.
On the international stage, Elneny represented Egypt at the 2012 Summer Olympics as part of the under-23 team. Since making his senior team debut in 2011, he has accumulated over 100 caps for Egypt, showcasing his enduring commitment and value to the national team. Elneny has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, as well as the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he demonstrated his skills and leadership on the global stage.

Mohamed Elneny's journey with FC Basel began after he impressed during a training camp in January 2013. He officially joined the club on loan until June 2013. Elneny made his debut for Basel in the Swiss Super League on February 10, 2013, in a 3–0 victory against Sion.
During his loan spell, Elneny contributed significantly to Basel's success. He won the Swiss Super League title and reached the final of the Swiss Cup in the 2012–13 season. Additionally, Basel made it to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League that season but were eliminated by Chelsea.
Impressed by Elneny's performances, Basel exercised their option to sign him permanently, and he signed a four-year contract until June 2017. Elneny scored his first goal for Basel in a league match against Zurich in April 2014.

The 2013–14 season saw Elneny win another Swiss Super League title with Basel and reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The following season, Basel secured their sixth consecutive league title, but finished as runners-up in the Swiss Cup final.
In the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign, Basel made it to the knockout stage, reaching the Round of 16. Elneny played a crucial role during this period, contributing goals and appearances across various competitions.
Despite leaving the club during the winter break of the 2015–16 season, Elneny played an integral part in Basel's success. Under new manager Urs Fischer, Basel clinched their seventh consecutive Swiss Super League title, marking Elneny's fourth league triumph with the club.
In total, Elneny made 169 appearances for Basel, scoring 13 goals. His contributions helped Basel maintain their dominance in Swiss football and achieve success in European competitions.

Mohamed Elneny's journey at Arsenal began with his official confirmation as a signing on January 13, 2016, following a 3–3 draw against Liverpool. The transfer, reported to be between £5 million and £7.4 million, was announced the next day, making him the first Egyptian to play for Arsenal. He was given the number 35 shirt.
Elneny made his debut for Arsenal on January 30, 2016, in a 2–1 FA Cup win against Burnley. His first goal for the club came in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against FC Barcelona. He was named Arsenal's Player of the Month for March after impressive performances, and again in April for his partnership with Aaron Ramsey. His goal in March won him the Goal of the Season award.

Elneny scored his first goal at the Emirates Stadium against FC BATE Borisov in the Europa League Group Stage. He also received praise for his performance in the Europa League tie against Östersunds FK, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Elneny renewed his contract with Arsenal on March 26, 2018. However, he received his first career red card on April 8, 2018, during a match against Southampton. This incident occurred after a tussle involving Jack Stephens and Jack Wilshere, leading to Elneny's dismissal for shoving Cédric Soares.
Despite the red card incident, Elneny continued to be an integral part of Arsenal's midfield, contributing both defensively and offensively to the team's performances.

Mohamed Elneny has been a consistent presence in Arsenal's midfield, contributing to various crucial matches and moments for the club. In the 2020 FA Community Shield, Elneny was part of the starting 11 as Arsenal secured a 5–4 victory over Liverpool in a penalty shootout, following a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes.
On November 1, 2020, Elneny delivered an outstanding performance alongside Thomas Partey in Arsenal's midfield, helping the team secure their first league win at Old Trafford since 2006. His efforts earned praise from manager Mikel Arteta.

During an international break in November 2020, Elneny tested positive for COVID-19 but remained asymptomatic. After his return, he scored his first goal of the season in a 4–2 Europa League victory over Dundalk on December 10, 2020. His impressive strike from outside the box was recognized as the runner-up for Goal of the Month on Arsenal's official website and later won the goal of the season award.
Elneny continued to showcase his scoring ability with another stunning goal against Olympiacos on March 11, 2021, helping Arsenal stay competitive in the tie.
On May 2, 2021, Elneny scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal with a volley from the edge of the box in a match against Newcastle United.

Elneny renewed his contract with Arsenal, further solidifying his commitment to the club. Additionally, on February 21, 2023, he signed a new one-and-a-half-year deal, indicating his ongoing importance to the team. Mohamed Elneny has been a key figure in the Egyptian national team, contributing to their successes in various international tournaments.
He played a significant role in helping the national under-23 team qualify for the 2012 Olympics, where he featured in all four games as Egypt reached the quarter-finals but were ultimately eliminated by Japan.
Elneny made his full international debut in September 2011 in a match against Sierra Leone. He scored his first goal for Egypt in a friendly against Jamaica on June 4, 2014.

He was part of the Egypt national squad that finished as runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations 2017 in Gabon. Additionally, he played a crucial role in helping Egypt qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, marking their third appearance in the tournament.
Elneny's contributions to the Egyptian national team were recognized when he was selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (held in 2022) team of the tournament, following Egypt's journey to the final.
In December 2023, Elneny was named in the 27-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. During the tournament, he achieved a significant milestone by earning his 100th international cap, including non-FIFA sanctioned matches, in a 2–2 draw against Ghana.