Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Brenden Russell Aaronson [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [2] | October 22, 2000||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Medford, New Jersey, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m) [3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, winger | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Union Berlin (on loan from Leeds United) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2018 | Philadelphia Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Bethlehem Steel FC | 21 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2019–2020 | Philadelphia Union | 51 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2021–2022 | Red Bull Salzburg | 46 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2022– | Leeds United | 36 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023– | → Union Berlin (loan) | 24 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | United States U15 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | United States U23 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020– | United States | 40 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 6, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 24, 2024 |
Brenden Russell Aaronson (born October 22, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Bundesliga club Union Berlin, on loan from EFL Championship side Leeds United, and the United States national team.
Raised in Medford, New Jersey, Aaronson attended Shawnee High School for a single year before being selected to the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy, where he played soccer and completed his high school education. [4] During his time at YSC Academy, Aaronson had played for Union's youth teams before committing to Indiana University and signing an amateur contract with Bethlehem Steel FC. [5] [6]
Aaronson appeared as an academy player playing for Bethlehem Steel FC during their 2017 season after coming through the Philadelphia Union academy. [7] [8] On September 30, 2017, Aaronson made his first start for Steel FC in an away draw versus Tampa Bay Rowdies. [9] Aaronson made 21 appearances for Steel FC and scored his first goal for the professional side against Atlanta United 2. [10]
On September 17, 2018, it was announced that Aaronson would join the Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season. [11] On March 17, 2019, the homegrown player scored his first professional goal in his MLS debut, helping Philadelphia tie against Atlanta United. Considered to be a back-up playmaker for the Union, injuries and suspensions gave Aaronson the opportunity to start and excel in the first team as both playmaking number 10 and left-sided box-to-box midfielder. [12]
At the end of his rookie season, Aaronson finished second for 2019 MLS Rookie of the year, with three goals and two assists in over 1,640 minutes played. Aaronson was the youngest player out of the five finalists. [13]
The 2020 season became a breakout year for Aaronson who finished the season with 31 appearances across all competitions and scoring 4 goals. Aaronson's performance during the season earned him several accolades include being named to the 2020 MLS Best XI for the regular season and the MLS is Back Tournament. [14] [15] The Union finished the season with the best league record earning the team's first trophy, the 2020 Supporters' Shield. [16]
After persistent rumors, it was announced on October 16, 2020, that Aaronson would join Red Bull Salzburg effective January 2021 after the MLS season ended. [17] While the transfer fee was undisclosed, Philadelphia announced that it would be the highest transfer fee paid for an American homegrown player from MLS. [18] Early news reports indicated the fee is US$6 million up front, with US$3 million in possible incentives. [19] [20] Aaronson made his debut for Salzburg on January 25, as a substitute during a 2–0 victory over Rheindorf Altach. [21]
Aaronson scored his first goal for Salzburg on February 10, 2021, scoring the game-winning goal during an eventual 3–1 win over Austria Wien. [22] On May 1, he won his first piece of silverware with Salzburg as the club defeated LASK in the Austrian Cup final by 3–0. [23] Aaronson scored the second goal of the match, and his fifth in all competitions since his move from Philadelphia in January. [23]
On May 26, 2022, Leeds United announced the signing of Aaronson on a five-year contract, beginning on July 1. [24] [25] Sky Sports reported the transfer fee to be £24.7 million. [26] He made his senior league debut for Leeds as part of the starting eleven in their season opener on August 6, with a 2–1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. [27] On August 21, Aaronson scored his first Premier League goal after forcing an error from Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy in a 3–0 home win over rivals Chelsea, helping Leeds secure their first victory over the Blues for 20 years. [28]
On July 9, 2023, following Leeds' relegation from the Premier League, Aaronson joined Bundesliga side Union Berlin on loan for the 2023–24 season. [29]
After showing a strong rookie season, Aaronson received his first senior call-up to the United States men's national soccer team in October 2019 for CONCACAF Nations League matches with Cuba and Canada. He did not earn a cap in either match. [30] Aaronson earned his second call-up to the senior team for the 2020 January camp. [31] Aaronson earned his full debut in a 1–0 win over Costa Rica. Later that year, Aaronson scored his first senior international goal during a 6–0 victory over El Salvador in December 2020. [32]
Aaronson was included in the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, playing in all three group games. [33] [34] [35] [36]
His brother Paxten Aaronson plays for SBV Vitesse, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Aaronson's performances for the Philadelphia Union and Red Bull Salzburg earned him the nickname of the "Medford Messi", an alliteration that refers to his birthplace and makes a comparison with Argentine player Lionel Messi. [37] He is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, as his father is from Sacramento. [38]
Club | Season | League | National cup [lower-alpha 1] | League cup [lower-alpha 2] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Bethlehem Steel FC | 2017 | USL Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
2018 | USL Championship | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||||
Total | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | |||||
Philadelphia Union | 2019 | MLS | 28 | 3 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 3 | |||
2020 | MLS | 23 [lower-alpha 3] | 4 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 3 [lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
Total | 51 | 7 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 57 | 7 | ||||
Red Bull Salzburg | 2020–21 | Austrian Bundesliga | 20 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 [lower-alpha 5] | 0 | — | 25 | 7 | ||
2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 26 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | 10 [lower-alpha 6] | 2 | — | 41 | 6 | |||
Total | 46 | 9 | 8 | 2 | — | 12 | 2 | — | 66 | 13 | ||||
Leeds United | 2022–23 | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 40 | 1 | |||
Union Berlin (loan) | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 [lower-alpha 6] | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
Career total | 178 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 219 | 24 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 2020 | 2 | 1 |
2021 | 13 | 4 | |
2022 | 13 | 1 | |
2023 | 10 | 2 | |
2024 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 40 | 8 |
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | December 9, 2020 | Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States | 2 | El Salvador | 6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
2 | March 25, 2021 | Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria | 3 | Jamaica | 2–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
3 | June 9, 2021 | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States | 7 | Costa Rica | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
4 | September 5, 2021 | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States | 9 | Canada | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
5 | September 8, 2021 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras | 10 | Honduras | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6 | June 1, 2022 | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States | 19 | Morocco | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
7 | March 24, 2023 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 29 | Grenada | 2–0 | 7–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
8 | September 12, 2023 | Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States | 34 | Oman | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
Philadelphia Union
Red Bull Salzburg
United States
Individual
Christopher Armas is an American professional soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.
Jesse Alan Marsch is an American professional soccer coach and former player who last coached Leeds United. Marsch played 14 seasons as a midfielder in Major League Soccer (MLS) with D.C. United, Chicago Fire, and Chivas USA, winning three league titles and four U.S. Open Cup titles, as well as earning two caps for the United States national team.
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and began play in the league's inaugural season in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 2006, the team was sold to Red Bull GmbH and re-branded as part of the company's global network of soccer clubs.
Hany Abubakr Mukhtar is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Nashville SC in Major League Soccer.
Tyler Shaan Adams is an American professional soccer player who plays for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and the United States national team. Primarily a midfielder, he is capable of playing as a full-back or winger on either side of the defense or midfield.
Marc Roca Junqué is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis, on loan from EFL Championship club Leeds United.
Rasmus Nissen Kristensen is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Serie A club Roma, on loan from EFL Championship club Leeds United, and the Denmark national team.
Mark Alexander McKenzie is an American professional soccer player who plays as center-back for Belgian Pro League club Genk and the United States national team.
Anthony Fontana is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle.
Matthew Joseph Real is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks on loan from the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
The 2018 Philadelphia Union season was the club's ninth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his fifth season with the club. The Union reached the MLS Cup Playoffs as the bottom seed in the MLS Eastern Conference. The club also reached the 2018 U.S. Open Cup final for the third time in club history, but finished runners-up to Houston Dynamo. The 2018 season was the Union's most successful to date, earning the highest points total (50) and most wins (15). Additionally, the 2018 season transitioned Sporting Directors with Earnie Stewart accepting a general manager position with the United States Soccer Federation, and the Union hiring Ernst Tanner; former academy manager for Red Bull Salzburg.
The 2020 Philadelphia Union season was the club's eleventh season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his seventh season with the club. The Union's season began on February 29, 2020, and was scheduled on end in October or November 2020, depending on their regular season performance. On March 12, 2020, MLS suspended the season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planned to be a 30-day suspension, the league remained suspended until July 9, 2020, when competition resumed with the MLS is Back Tournament. The tournament ran through August 11, 2020, with the remainder of the season, under a truncated format, continued through November 8, 2020.
Jack Ryan McGlynn is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
The 2020–21 season was the 88th season in the existence of FC Red Bull Salzburg and the club's 32nd consecutive season in the top flight of Austrian football. They were the defending Austrian League and Austrian Cup champions. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 until 30 June 2021.
Paxten Reid Aaronson is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club Vitesse on loan from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, and the United States national team.
The 2021 D.C. United season was the club's 26th season of existence, and their 26th consecutive season playing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing vaccination efforts, the season began on April 17, 2021 and ended on November 7, 2021. Despite winning against Toronto FC on the last match of the regular season, the team did not qualify playoffs, making it their second consecutive season in which D.C. United did not qualify for the playoffs. It was the first time since 2011, that United did not qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
The 2021 Philadelphia Union season was the club's twelfth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team is managed by Jim Curtin, his eighth season with the club. The club's regular season began on April 7, 2021, with the CONCACAF Champions League, and then on April 17, 2021, with MLS play, and ended on November 7, 2021, a month-delayed start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of MLS, the Union, by winning the 2020 Supporters' Shield, is competing in their first ever CONCACAF Champions League.
The 2022 season was D.C. United's 27th in existence and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of American soccer, Major League Soccer. In addition to MLS, D.C. United participated in this season's editions of the U.S. Open Cup. United also participated in the Coachella Valley Invitational and the Capital Cup friendly tournaments. The season covered the period from 1 December 2021 to 30 November 2022.
The 2022–23 season was the 90th season in the existence of FC Red Bull Salzburg and the club's 34th consecutive season in the top flight of Austrian football. In addition to the domestic league, Salzburg participated in this season's editions of the Austrian Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.