Brenden Aaronson is Leeds United’s top scorer after three Championship games and not many could have foreseen that sentence going into the 2024-25 campaign.
The USA star has two goals after returning to Leeds in the summer. One of Victor Orta’s loan army from last summer, many expected all eight players to be sold or leave again this summer, with six departing.
Robin Koch, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente have left permanently, while Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen have gone on loan. But Aaronson and Max Wober are back at Leeds this summer.
Aaronson has since scored two goals in four games, netting a late equaliser against Portsmouth to draw 3-3. He then missed a golden chance to win the game, left on the bench against West Brom in the next.
Gnonto, Bogle and other Leeds players praise Aaronson
With Joel Piroe struggling against West Brom in the 10 role, Daniel Farke decided to hand Aaronson a start at Sheffield Wednesday and he grabbed it with both hands, scoring the opener with his left foot.
It was a combination that worked, of Aaronson, Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto behind Mateo Joseph. Joseph was man of the match with two assists but all four enjoyed excellent performance to win 2-0.
Aaronson posted on Instagram after the match, saying it felt good to be back at Leeds. Gnonto, new signing Jayden Bogle, Pascal Struijk and Joseph were among those to respond by praising Aaronson.
Aaronson sparkles but there is still an elephant in the room
He has been excellent in glimpses already for Leeds. His touch to create space against Portsmouth before finishing with a shot that wrong-footed the Pompey keeper was a moment of magic at the right time.
His finish against Wednesday, having created the goal following a neat flick from Dan James was superb. But WhoScored report that Aaronson was dispossessed five times, more than any other Leeds player.
Criticism from fans during his first year at Leeds was largely down to his lack of physicality and while he is expected to lose the ball when trying to create, it is obvious that in losing it five times, it is still an issue.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
