USMNT star Brenden Aaronson explains ‘frustrating’ compliment at Leeds as playmaker reveals personal targets in Premier League promotion bid

The 24-year-old playmaker returned to Elland Road in the summer of 2024, having spent a season on loan at Union Berlin in Germany, and agreed to form part of a Premier League promotion push. Getting to grips with life in the Championship was never going to be easy.

Aaronson has, however, taken his goal return for the 2024-25 campaign to eight and also has two assists to his name. He has become an important creative cog in Daniel Farke’s title-chasing machine. The American is a marked man, though, and is attracting plenty of attention from rivals that are eager to contain his obvious threat.

Aaronson has told BBC West Yorkshire Sport of putting in what was arguably his most “complete” performance in a 7-0 mauling of Cardiff: “I feel like every game is a different game that I might have to play. Some games I have to be more patient between the lines. It’s been a little bit frustrating recently because I feel like I’ve had a lot of the 6s following me around a lot more, so it hasn’t been as easy to pick up the ball and drive and get into the box with the ball. Sometimes you have to be patient.”

The United States international added on the goals that he is setting himself, with end product an important part of his game: “It was an all-round good performance, I was happy with it, but I want to keep growing and keep getting better. I want another goal, I want another assist, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do. I think I can keep adding to my assist tally and I want goals.”

Aaronson is tied to a contract at Leeds through to the summer of 2027. By the time that deal comes to a close he will hope to have helped the Whites to cement a standing back among the Premier League elite, while also gracing a home World Cup in 2026.