Leeds United star Brenden Aaronson earns award in American media for West Ham display

Add as preferred source on Google

It was probably his best-ever display in a Leeds United shirt and certainly, his best performance in a Leeds shirt in the Premier League. Brenden Aaronson starred in Leeds’ win against West Ham.

Criticism for Aaronson has been ongoing ever since he joined Leeds for £25m in the summer of 2022. Overpriced, lack of physicality, non-evident end product, and he jumped ship to go on loan in 2023.

Now back at Leeds, having started 44 of 46 Championship games last season, the criticism remains. That lack of end product, the inability to keep the ball under pressure, and missing a sitter against Burnley.

Well, that version of Aaronson was nowhere to be seen against West Ham. Scoring in the third minute, Aaronson produced his best display for Leeds, almost scoring a second after a mazy run and hit the bar.

• READ MORE: Anderlecht are interested in signing a Leeds United player for a bargain fee

Brenden Aaronson’s display recognised in US media this week

His performance saw him voted man of the match by Leeds fans with 62% of the vote. But his form was not only recognised among Leeds supporters, but back in his home country, Aaronson also won praise.

SBI Soccer have named Aaronson as Americans Abroad: Player of the Week. They described Aaronson as the ‘catalyst’ in Leeds’ win over West Ham, which he very much was on Friday night at Elland Road.

“Brenden Aaronson was the catalyst in Leeds United’s victory,” SBI Soccer said. The USMNT midfielder earned SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors for his impactful showing at Elland Road.”

The stats claim Brenden Aaronson is Leeds’ sixth-best player

Aaronson was exceptional against West Ham but Leeds fans are hoping it is not simply a flash in the pan, and that the American can recreate such a performance moving forward. Brighton away is up next.

But according to FotMob’s stats, Aaronson has actually been Leeds’ sixth-best player this season. Despite his outing against West Ham, fans would probably have him lower down the list than sixth position.

Leeds’ top 10 players:

It won’t come as a surprise that the top two players so far have been Sean Longstaff and Joe Rodon, both of whom added another goal involvement to their tally on Friday. Anton Stach is currently in third.