Leeds Fans: Should We Discuss Brenden Aaronson’s Future?

“Score some goals. Make some assists. Don’t fall over so easily. Then we can talk. MOT.”

When eScored inquired last summer whether there was a way back for Brenden Aaronson at Leeds United, a reader responded with the quote above.

It had just been announced that, following a season on loan at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga after Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League, Aaronson would return to the club for another opportunity in English football, this time in the Championship.

Those remarks have proven to be a useful checklist for the United States international as he seeks redemption at Elland Road. The 24-year-old still faces skepticism following his debut season in 2022-23 and is not universally favored among fans. However, he has made significant strides in becoming a player who positively impacts manager Daniel Farke’s team.

After contributing a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Oxford United in his last home game before Christmas, Aaronson’s tally for the 2024-25 season currently stands at six goals and two assists.

In the festive spirit, perhaps it’s time to revisit whether Aaronson has accomplished the unexpected and made his way back into the good graces of Leeds fans.

It feels like ages ago that both Aaronson and the similarly scrutinized Max Wober were booed by their own fans during a pre-season friendly against Valencia in August. They had utilized clauses in their contracts to leave Leeds on loan the previous summer — to Union Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively — instead of staying to help secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

No one anticipated any of Leeds’ loaned players returning to Yorkshire a year later, but Aaronson and Austrian defender Wober did, the former motivated by constructive discussions with boss Farke and a desire to prove himself in England.

Aaronson has openly admitted to being a people-pleaser. He conveyed to eScored in June that he felt he “had unfinished business at Leeds” and was prepared to face the criticism that was expected to come his way.

Aaronson during Saturday’s game against Oxford (George Wood/Getty Images)

This season in the Championship has been characterized by learning and positive performances for the former Red Bull Salzburg midfielder, who joined the Austrian club in the summer of 2022. Following the sale of Georginio Rutter to Brighton, Aaronson has been deployed in the No 10 role, utilizing his energetic running and attacking creativity to benefit the team.

Though Leeds considered signing a replacement for Rutter in the summer — for context, a leading option from Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer boasts five goals and five assists this season — Aaronson has risen above internal competition from Joel Piroe to claim the position for himself.

Under Farke’s guidance, he has learned that intensity does not always equate to efficiency. There are effective ways to harness the frenetic pressing and attacking mindset that suited him in Red Bull systems. Farke has been straightforward when discussing Aaronson’s contributions, noting that the urgency to prove himself at Leeds has been a positive factor, while also suggesting areas for further improvement.

“Sometimes he runs so much that at times he overloads on the wings, and this impacts in the decisive moments, because he is not always where it counts: near the striker, where he can make things happen,” Farke stated in November. “Out of good intentions, sometimes he has so much energy he tends to run too much, instead of waiting for the moment when the ball comes to him, allowing the opponent to shift, so he can receive the ball in much better positions.

“This is just due to his feeling for positioning, his age, and the fact he has played a different style of football before, for teams that played at a faster pace.

“I appreciate his energy and his work rate, but he occasionally needs to direct it to the areas where it truly matters(…) If you play football with the pulse always at 100, it becomes challenging to remain calm and composed in critical moments. We are working on this, because we don’t want to diminish his strength or energy, but if he can manage this, he will reach the highest level.”

Aaronson has shown improvement, although playing at a lower tier than when Leeds fans last saw him in action for the club.

In his debut season, Aaronson recorded one goal and three assists in 36 league matches, 28 of which were starts, for a relegated team. In the Championship this season, he has become a fixture in the starting lineup — with substantial effort for both club and country.

While he still encounters moments of indecision on the ball, his display against Oxford marked arguably his best performance of the season. This game served as a significant statement amidst discussions about the necessity for Leeds to secure another No 10 during the upcoming January transfer window.

The graphic above illustrates Aaronson’s touches throughout the season, showcasing both his energy and ability to move around the pitch. His efforts to identify the right spaces have been a focal point of his work with Farke, and the rapport he’s developed with the manager has been advantageous for his personal growth this season.

“We have a really good relationship, not just with the coach (Farke) but with all the coaches,” Aaronson stated following his performance against Oxford. “I really enjoy working with them and he’s been great, showing a lot of trust in me. For players, having that trust from the coach is significant. It means a lot. We’ve discussed what I can improve on, and what I can focus on.”

“For me, it’s about continuing to score goals and provide assists and placing myself in the right areas, because sometimes I get a little… too eager to get on the ball and end up vacating my position. But being patient, like in the first half when the middle was congested, I needed to stay in the pocket and be around the goal. That’s how I scored my goal, by being patient and maintaining my position.”

With another key contribution to a dominant team display against second-bottom Oxford, Aaronson has demonstrated that he is a valuable asset to Farke and is eager to keep showcasing the determination that has led him on the path to redemption with the Leeds supporters.

While he is not yet a finished product, with Farke’s backing and second-placed Leeds continuing their winning streak, Aaronson is on track to fulfill his goal of proving himself as a capable player at this level.

(Top photo: George Wood/Getty Images)