1. Early Life and Youth Career
Brenden Russell Aaronson was born on October 22, 2000, and raised in Medford, New Jersey. He attended Shawnee High School (New Jersey) for a single year before being selected to the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy. At the YSC Academy, he balanced his soccer training with his high school education. During this period, Aaronson played for the Union's various youth teams. Following his time at the academy, he committed to Indiana University and simultaneously signed an amateur contract with Bethlehem Steel FC, marking his entry into semi-professional soccer.
2. Club Career
Aaronson's professional club career began with Bethlehem Steel FC, the reserve team of Philadelphia Union, where he quickly demonstrated his potential. His performances led to a move to the senior Philadelphia Union squad, followed by transfers to European clubs Red Bull Salzburg and Leeds United, with a loan spell at Union Berlin.
2.1. Bethlehem Steel
Aaronson first appeared as an academy player for Bethlehem Steel FC during their 2017 season, having come through the Philadelphia Union academy system. On September 30, 2017, he made his first start for Steel FC in an away match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, which ended in a draw. Throughout his tenure with Bethlehem Steel FC, Aaronson made 21 appearances and scored his first professional goal against Atlanta United 2.
2.2. Philadelphia Union
On September 17, 2018, it was announced that Aaronson would officially join the Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season. He made his MLS debut on March 3, 2019, in a match against Toronto FC. On March 17, 2019, Aaronson scored his first professional goal in MLS, contributing to a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United FC. Initially considered a backup playmaker for the Union, injuries and suspensions within the squad provided Aaronson with the opportunity to start and consistently excel in the first team. He demonstrated versatility, performing effectively as both a playmaking number 10 and a left-sided box-to-box midfielder.
At the conclusion of his rookie season in 2019, Aaronson finished second in the voting for the 2019 MLS Rookie of the Year award. He registered three goals and two assists in over 1,640 minutes played, and was notably the youngest player among the five finalists for the award. The 2020 season marked a breakout year for Aaronson. He made 31 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals. His impressive performances during this season earned him significant accolades, including selection to the 2020 MLS Best XI for the regular season and also for the MLS is Back Tournament. The Philadelphia Union concluded the season with the best league record, securing the team's first major trophy, the 2020 Supporters' Shield. During this period, Bundesliga scouts reportedly took notice of Aaronson, with some media outlets comparing him to "the North American Kai Havertz" and reporting interest from clubs like Borussia Mönchengladbach.
2.3. Red Bull Salzburg
Persistent rumors regarding a move to Europe culminated on October 16, 2020, when it was officially announced that Brenden Aaronson would join Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. The transfer became effective in January 2021, following the conclusion of the MLS season. Aaronson signed a five-year contract with the club, set to run until 2025. While the precise transfer fee was not publicly disclosed by the clubs, Philadelphia Union stated that it represented the highest transfer fee ever paid for an American homegrown player from MLS. Initial reports indicated that the fee was around 6.00 M USD upfront, with an additional 3.00 M USD in potential incentives.
Aaronson made his debut for Red Bull Salzburg on January 25, 2021, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory over SC Rheindorf Altach. He scored his first goal for the club on February 10, 2021, netting the game-winning goal in a 3-1 triumph over FK Austria Wien. On May 1, 2021, Aaronson secured his first piece of silverware with Salzburg when the club defeated LASK 3-0 in the Austrian Cup final. He scored the second goal of the match, which was his fifth goal across all competitions since his transfer in January. Aaronson further contributed to Salzburg's domestic dominance, helping the club win both the Austrian Bundesliga title in the 2020-21 season and again in the 2021-22 season.
2.4. Leeds United
On May 26, 2022, Leeds United announced that they had completed the signing of Brenden Aaronson on a five-year contract, which officially began on July 1. This contract ties him to the club until 2027. Sky Sports reported the transfer fee paid by Leeds United to be 24.70 M GBP (approximately 30.20 M USD), which made him the second most expensive American soccer player at the time. Aaronson made his senior league debut for Leeds as a starter in their opening match of the 2022-23 Premier League season on August 6, which resulted in a 2-1 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. On August 21, he scored his first Premier League goal by capitalizing on an error from Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This goal contributed to a dominant 3-0 home win over rivals Chelsea, securing Leeds United's first victory against the Blues in 20 years.
2.4.1. Loan to Union Berlin
Following Leeds United's relegation from the Premier League, Aaronson joined Bundesliga side Union Berlin on a loan for the entire 2023-24 season.
2.4.2. Return to Leeds
Aaronson returned to Elland Road for the 2024-25 season. He delivered powerful performances in his first five games in August, scoring two goals in two league matches. Notably, he netted the added-time equalizer in the 3-3 home season opener against Portsmouth on August 10. His two goals and assists during August earned him the fans' JD Sports Player of the Month Award for August 2024.
3. International Career
After a strong rookie season in MLS, Brenden Aaronson received his first senior call-up to the United States men's national soccer team in October 2019. This call-up was for the CONCACAF Nations League matches against Cuba and Canada, though he did not earn a cap in either match. He received his second call-up to the senior team for the 2020 January camp. Aaronson made his full international debut on February 2, 2020, in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. Later that year, in December 2020, he scored his first senior international goal during a dominant 6-0 win against El Salvador.
Aaronson was subsequently included in the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He featured in all three of the United States' group stage matches during the tournament.
4. Personal Life
Brenden Aaronson's younger brother, Paxten Aaronson, is also a professional soccer player, currently playing for FC Utrecht on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt. Due to his impressive performances for the Philadelphia Union and Red Bull Salzburg, Brenden Aaronson earned the popular nickname "Medford Messi." This alliteration refers to his birthplace, Medford, New Jersey, and draws a comparison to the renowned Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. Aaronson is also a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, a loyalty that stems from his father's origins in Sacramento. In August 2024, Brenden Aaronson became engaged to Milana D'Ambra.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bethlehem Steel FC | 2017 | USL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | USL | 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 | 4 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
| Total | 51 | 7 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 57 | 7 | ||||
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2020-21 | Austrian Bundesliga | 20 | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 25 | 7 | ||
| 2021-22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 26 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - | 10 | 2 | - | 41 | 6 | |||
| Total | 46 | 9 | 8 | 2 | - | 12 | 2 | - | 66 | 13 | ||||
| Leeds United | 2022-23 | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2024-25 | Championship | 35 | 8 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 71 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 76 | 9 | ||||
| Union Berlin (loan) | 2023-24 | Bundesliga | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | - | 38 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 219 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 261 | 32 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 47 | 8 | |
:United States score listed first, score column indicates score after each Aaronson goal.
| 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 |
6. Honors
6.1. Club
- Philadelphia Union
- Supporters' Shield: 2020
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Austrian Bundesliga: 2020-21, 2021-22
- Austrian Cup: 2020-21, 2021-22
6.2. International
- United States
- CONCACAF Nations League: 2019-20, 2022-23, 2023-24
6.3. Individual
- MLS is Back Tournament Best XI: 2020
- MLS Best XI: 2020
- JD Sports Player of the Month Award (Leeds United fans' vote): August 2024