Leeds sign American midfielder Brenden Aaronson for reported $28M fee
Leeds United signed Brenden Aaronson from RB Salzburg on Thursday, reuniting the American midfielder with former head coach and compatriot Jesse Marsch.
Aaronson, who joined Marsch's Salzburg in January 2021, cost the Premier League club around $28 million to buy, according to The Athletic's Phil Hay. He signed a five-year contract at Elland Road.
The 21-year-old provided 10 assists and scored six goals over 41 club appearances in the 2021-22 campaign as Salzburg won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup in back-to-back seasons.
🤝 He's here!
— Leeds United StatZone (@lufcsz) May 26, 2022
We've taken a look at new @LUFC midfielder, Brenden Aaronson, and his stats from his time at Red Bull Salzburg. #LUFC #MOT @stainforthcon pic.twitter.com/vUhUnZz3O4
He previously played for the Philadelphia Union, where he won the Supporters' Shield for the first time in the club's history. He was named in the MLS Best XI at the end of the 2020 term.
Aaronson has represented the United States on 18 occasions, scoring five times and helping his nation reach the 2022 World Cup. He's in Gregg Berhalter's squad for the upcoming fixtures against Morocco, Uruguay, Grenada, and El Salvador.
Aaronson should occupy a place in Marsch's midfield ahead of Mateusz Klich, who turns 32 in June. Klich has been used intermittently since Marsch was hired as Leeds boss in February.
Leeds finished 17th in the Premier League table after beating Brentford and securing a final-day escape from relegation at Burnley's expense.