After successfully surviving in their second season in the Premier League, Leeds United have now started strengthening their squad for next season.
The Whites have agreed to sign 21-year-old American midfielder Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg for a reported fee of around £25 million.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch had coached the 21-year-old Aaronson in Salzburg, and they will now be reunited at Elland Road.
Leeds have actually had their sights set on Aaronson for some time, and after securing Premier League status on the last day against Brentford, they finally sealed the deal. So what exactly are Leeds getting in Aaronson and how will the young American fare at Elland Road?
Read on below as SBOTOP breaks down the Whites’ newest big-money signing.
Who is Brenden Aaronson?
So who exactly is Brenden Aaronson? Well, he is a 21-year-old who primarily plays as a central attacking midfielder but can also play wide on the left.
Aaronson came up in the youth system of MLS club Philadelphia Union. Starting at age 16, he played for affiliate club Bethlehem Steel for a couple of seasons before moving on to the Union’s first team.
After one and a half seasons in Philadelphia, Aaronson earned himself a move to Red Bull Salzburg for a transfer fee that was the highest for an American homegrown MLS player. Aaronson made 56 appearances for Salzburg in a season and a half, scoring 9 goals and providing 11 assists.
The 21-year-old Aaronson has also been capped 18 times already for the US men’s national team, scoring five goals.
But while he has been given the nickname “Medford Messi” – he hails from Medford, New Jersey – and plays an advanced midfield role, Leeds fans should be under no illusions that Aaronson is set to become some sort of attacking star anywhere near Messi’s galaxy.
So if that is the case, then why exactly did Leeds spend upwards of £25 million for the young American?
How will Aaronson fit at Leeds?
Leeds had had their eye on Aaronson even before Marsch’s appointment, and it’s apparent why: pressing.
Like Marsch, who was chosen to succeed the beloved Marcelo Bielsa as coach in part because of his experience implementing a pressing system, Aaronson was earmarked because of that specific skill. He is an elite-level presser, which presumably makes him a fine fit for Leeds and their system.
And the fact that Aaronson spent time under Marsch with the Red Bulls and shone in the Salzburg system should make his bedding-in process at Leeds and the Premier League somewhat easier.
Leeds likely see Aaronson as the long-term successor to Mateusz Klich’s position in the side. Although, the young American still has a long way toward reproducing the Polish international’s overall production.
Aside from being a tremendous presser, Klich also provided more than his fair share of shots and shot-creating actions. And while Klich was not a gifted passer, he was adept at getting into pockets of space and in position to receive passes, particularly in the penalty area.
By comparison, Aaronson’s goal and shot production stats in the Austrian Bundesliga were quite poor considering the relatively weak level of competition. His ability to create shots for others is also not all too impressive and is unlikely to improve Leeds’ Premier League 2022 odds.
But Aaronson did still provide his share of assists at Salzburg, and given his relatively young age, the hope is that he can develop more of his offensive game in the future.
At present, though, he can offer his young legs that can run all day and his pressing skills, which are welcome additions to a Leeds side that value both.
Will Aaronson prove to be a smart signing?
One could argue that despite Aaronson’s elite pressing ability, Leeds might have overpaid for the young midfielder given his current overall skill set, notably his underwhelming offensive production.
With Raphinha – who was signed for a mere £17 million in 2020, an absolute bargain in hindsight – possibly set to leave in the summer and question marks over Patrick Bamford after an injury-hit season, Leeds could have used an attacking midfielder who could actually make a significant difference in their attack.
But with Klich now well into his 30s, there was no doubt that Leeds needed an injection of youth and fresh legs in midfield for next season, so Aaronson’s arrival should be much welcomed. And while he is unlikely to provide too many Premier League 2022 highlights, at just 21 years of age, Aaronson could still make major improvements on the offensive side of the game.
So Leeds’ Aaronson signing should be considered a bet for the future than a move for the present. Although, with his familiarity with Marsch’s system, the hope is Aaronson will be put in a position to succeed and contribute this year, then gradually grow at Elland Road.
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