After conversations with his agent, family, the club and head coach Daniel Farke, United States international Brenden Aaronson will return to Leeds United this season after a one-year loan at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
“It was a pretty easy decision,” Aaronson tells The Athletic. “I felt like I had unfinished business at Leeds.”
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Aaronson’s debut season at Leeds wasn’t easy following a £25million ($30m) transfer from Red Bull Salzburg. Despite an active relegation release clause in his contract this summer — which meant he could have left the team on a free loan again — Aaronson chose to go back to Elland Road next season. There was interest from teams in Germany and elsewhere, according to sources, kept anonymous to protect relationships, on the situation tell The Athletic, but Aaronson held a lot of control over his future and opted to stay.
A positive conversation with head coach Farke reassured Aaronson his feeling that he should return was correct.
“It was an awesome conversation,” Aaronson says. “The role he sees me playing, the games he watched of me, how I fit into the team, and, importantly, the things I can get better at.”
Aaronson also spoke to U.S. teammates Josh Sargent and Joe Scally, who both played for Farke previously and had glowing testimonials of the German coach.
Farke’s first season at Leeds was strong, but fell short of promotion. Leeds finished third on 90 points and lost in the play-off final to Southampton. They will be among the favourites for promotion again in 2024-25.
“It’s a grind. It’s a challenge I want to be up for,” Aaronson says. “All I care about is getting Leeds United promoted back to the Premier League.”
Aaronson says he returns to England a different player. Most obviously, he’s a little bit bigger. He’s put on several pounds of muscle while in Germany, working to improve the physical side of his game, and feels more ready for the Championship.
“Playing in the Bundesliga is super physical, it’s just a battering,” Aaronson says. “The biggest thing I learned this year is working on physicality. I got a nutritionist and I gained six pounds of muscle mass, which is huge for me. I had to gain weight. At Union, there wasn’t a ton of football. We were without the ball much more. It forced me to get stronger and win more duels.”
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Aaronson’s debut season for Leeds was difficult, particularly given the expectations following his price tag. He appeared in 36 of the club’s 38 Premier League matches in the 2022-23 season, culminating in relegation for Leeds. Aaronson was criticised by fans for his lack of goal contributions, as well as his slight frame.
Previous coaches talk highly of the 23-year-old’s mentality and resilience, particularly Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin. Aaronson had to fight in Germany to reclaim his place in the team as he went a long stretch early in the season on the bench.
Union ended last season in a relegation battle as well. Aaronson earned his way back into the starting XI at the end of the year and this time, played a key role in their safety.
“I’ve had to grow,” Aaronson says. “Coming from Salzburg where there was a lot of winning and trophies, then in a relegation battle with Leeds. It’s tough. We were losing games, our confidence was low and it was tough on the players. Then going to Union where I thought I’d be playing more, but that’s why you play football. To play through this, to get stronger.”
As he spent time reflecting and planning, Aaronson was reminded of one of his first interviews upon signing with Leeds two years ago.
“I said I wanted to be a big Leeds player,” Aaronson remembers. “My grandpa brought up that quote to me last week, so I was thinking about it again. It stuck with me. That’s what I want to do: I want to go back to the club and do special things.”
Top of the list? Returning to the Premier League.
“I know how big the club is, how much it means to people in the city,” Aaronson says. “Coming back, I’m going to do the best I can. All I want to do is bring Leeds back to the Premier League. I can’t wait to play at Elland Road in front of our fans again.”
(Top photo: Pat Scasi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)