1. FC Union Berlin have secured the services of midfielder Brenden Aaronson for the 2023/24 season, with the American international joining on loan from Leeds United. 

Born in the USA - matured in Europe  

Aaronson learned to play football in the USA, first at high school, and at Medford Soccer Club and Real Jersey FC, the club founded by his father. However, his eye-catching performances quickly brought him to the attention of larger franchises, such as that of the MLS side, Philadelphia Union.

 Stints in Philadelphia's academy followed from 2013, as well as two loan spells with Bethlehem Steel, the MLS club's farm team, between 2017 and 2018. From 2019, the Medford, New Jersey native had established himself as an integral part of Philadelphia's first team and his performances helped to ensure third and first place finishes at the end of the regular season. Union won the supporters shield, their first major trophy, in that 2020 season.  

A second place in the 2019 Rookie of the Year voting and a spot on the All-Star team also underlined the role and performance of the now 22-year-old. 

Those performances prompted RB Salzburg to bring the midfielder, by now an international, to Austria's fourth-largest city in the winter of 2020/21. There, too, he was an important part of the first team, and having appeared in 66 games he won the league and cup double in his first two years abroad, scoring in the 2021 cup final. His brother, Paxten, meanwhile has followed a similar path, signing for Eintracht Frankfurt from Philadelphia at the start of this year.  

Last summer, Brenden followed the call of the English Premier League. Leeds United beat off stiff competition for Aaronson’s signature, but were unable to avoid relegation to the EFL Championship on the last day of the season, despite his strong performances in 36 Premier League games.  

Three facts about Brenden

• His full name is Brenden Russel Aaronson.
• Brenden scored his 23 goals in 22 different games, only losing one of them.
• Brenden played in all four of the USA's matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Views on the transfer

"Union's path and the success of the last few years did not go unnoticed in either the USA, Austria or England,” said Aaronson on his transfer. “Somehow, you always heard something about them. A year ago, I wouldn't have believed that I would be here and able to play in the Champions League with Union. I'm looking forward to the year ahead with joy and confidence and want to help us have another successful season."  

"Brenden's commitment has made us very happy, he is a type of player we don't have who will be good for our attacking game. Despite his young age, he already has a lot of international experience and will complement our squad at a high level," Oliver Ruhnert, Union's managing director of men’s professional football, commented on the loan deal.