Brenden Aaronson in profile – Get to know Leeds United’s American playmaker

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Brenden Aaronson is a professional footballer who plays for Leeds United as a forward.

Leeds United made Brenden Aaronson one of their most expensive players ever when they signed him in 2022.

Many supporters would argue he hasn’t lived up to the hefty price tag, but the playmaker did have a massive role in securing the Championship title in 2025.

Now back in the Premier League, Aaronson is trying to prove he is good enough to play at the highest level.

Here’s what you need to know about him.

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How old is Brenden Aaronson?

Born on October 22, 2000, in Medford, New Jersey, the United States, Brenden Russell Aaronson is 24 years old, as of September 2025.

He remains surprisingly young, given how long he has already been playing at a high level.

His brother, Paxten Aaronson, is also a footballer, playing for Colorado Rapids.

How tall is Brenden Aaronson?

Aaronson stands at 5’10”, a reasonable height for a playmaker with guile, and his low centre of gravity helps him have good control of the ball.

It also allows him to have a great engine, with the American one of the fittest players in the first team squad.

How much did Brenden Aaronson cost Leeds United?

Leeds signed Aaronson for a massive £24.7m on July 1, 2022.

Aaronson was brought in as a replacement for Raphinha, who headed to Barcelona, but he has fallen far short of filling the hole left by the Brazilian, as most players would.

Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in their first season and Aaronson took advantage of a clause in his contract to join Union Berlin on loan.

He returned for the 2024-25 season, though, and played every game as Leeds won the title to return to the top flight.

Brenden Aaronson salary

Aaronson reportedly earns £45,000 a week at Leeds, which works out at £2.34m a year.

That puts him at around the middle of Leeds’ wage bill.

Brenden Aaronson stats

Aaronson’s stats for the five clubs he’s played for so far in his career, as well as his country.

Brenden Aaronson Instagram

Aaronson has an official Instagram account, @baaronson7, that has nearly 200k followers.

He does not appear to have an official X, formerly Twitter, account.

Praise for Brenden Aaronson

Speaking in September 2025, Daniel Farke praised Aaronson and called for fans to get off his back.

The manager said: “It’s important not to be on the back of a player and to put too much weight on his shoulders. Sometimes, the feeling with Brenden is that we are a bit over-critical of him in public. I have to defend him a little bit.

“We want goals, we want assists, and, in the end, he has to deliver; otherwise, a different player will get his chance. But instead of criticising him too much, it’s not like Brenden is not willing to score a goal or is not highly motivated.

“Sometimes, because he is so on it, he is perhaps losing his calmness and is not so clear in his actions. It’s also not helpful if everyone is on his back and always criticising him for this.”

“What I want to see from a player who represents my shirt is definitely hard work, and this is what Brenden always does. And for that, as long as the player works hard for this team and does his tactical job, I’m always happy.

“But if he wants to become a regular starter who starts each and every game, then, for that, of course, he has to improve, together with our help, his offensive output. It’s a bit like last season, Daniel James, Manor Salomon, at some point, they scored goal after goal.

“They delivered assist after assist, so they kept their place in the starting line-up. If you don’t do this in the offence, and so far in the offence we haven’t done this, then you have to accept, OK, there’s competition, sometimes a different player gets a chance to cement his position. So, yes, he has to step up a bit in his offensive decision-making.”