Brenden Aaronson

Brenden Russell Aaronson[2] (born October 22, 2000) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.

Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson with Philadelphia Union on March 2, 2019
Personal information
Full name Brenden Russell Aaronson[1]
Date of birth (2000-10-22) October 22, 2000
Place of birth Medford, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 22
Youth career
2015–2018 Philadelphia Union
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Bethlehem Steel 24 (1)
2019– Philadelphia Union 33 (4)
National team‡
2015 United States U15
2016 United States U17
2019 United States U23 2 (0)
2020– United States 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 23, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 1, 2020

Youth

Raised in Medford, New Jersey, Aaronson attended Shawnee High School for a single year before being selected to the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy, where he played soccer and completed his high school education.[3]

During his time at YSC Academy, Aaronson had played for Union's youth teams before committing to Indiana University and signing an amateur contract with Bethlehem Steel FC.[4][5]

Club career

Bethlehem Steel

Aaronson appeared as an academy player playing for Bethlehem Steel FC during their 2017 season after coming through the Philadelphia Union academy.[6][7] In October 2017, Aaronson made his first start for Steel FC in an away draw versus Tampa Bay Rowdies.[8] Aaronson made 21 appearances for Steel FC and scored his first goal for the professional side against Atlanta United 2.[9]

Philadelphia Union

On September 17, 2018, it was announced that Aaronson would join Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season.[10] On March 17, 2019, the homegrown player scored his first professional goal in his MLS debut helping Philadelphia tie against Atlanta United. Considered to be a back-up playmaker for the Union, injuries and suspensions gave Aaronson the opportunity to start and excel in the first team as both playmaking number 10 and left-sided box-to-box midfielder.[11]

At the end of his rookie season, Aaronson finished second for 2019 MLS Rookie of the year, with three goals and two assists in over 1,640 minutes played. Aaronson was the youngest player out of the five finalists.[12]

International career

After showing a strong rookie season, Aaronson received his first senior call up to the United States men's national soccer team in October 2019 for Concacaf Nations League matches with Cuba and Canada. He did not earn a cap in either match.[13] Aaronson earned his second call-up to the senior team for the 2020 January camp.[14] Aaronson made his first USMNT start in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica.

Career statistics
As of match played March 9, 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel FC 2017 USL Championship 6000--60
2018 18100--181
Total 2410000241
Philadelphia Union 2019 Major League Soccer 30300--303
2020 21000021
Total 3240000324
Career total 5650000565

References
  1. "Aaronson's rise to the USMNT is fueled by a strong season and a hunger to learn". AmericansoccerNow. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  2. https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/92e7a32f-796e-42b9-af2b-f0d7166d4246/20_MOQ_Rosters_Provisional_Lists.pdf
  3. Strauss, Robert. "Meet the Philadelphia Union’s Youngest Hometown Player; At just 18 years old, midfielder Brenden Aaronson's dream has come true.", New Jersey Monthly, May 2, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019.
  4. Matthew Ralph (November 20, 2017). "Brenden Aaronson verbally commits to Indiana University for 2019". Brotherly Game. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  5. Jonathan Tannenwald (August 21, 2018). "Medford's Brenden Aaronson is the Union's top prospect, and a genuine U.S. soccer playmaker". The Philadelphia Inquire. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  6. "Philadelphia Union". phil.ussoccerda.com.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Matthew Ralph (October 5, 2017). "South Jersey teens impress in first starts for Bethlehem Steel". Brotherly Game. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  9. Matthew Ralph (July 30, 2018). "Three Steel players score first pro goals in 4-1 win over Atlanta United 2". Brotherly Game. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  10. "Union Sign Midfielder Brenden Aaronson As Club's Sixth Current Homegrown Player | Philadelphia Union".
  11. Tansey, Joe (July 30, 2019). "Dream season continues for Philadelphia Union's Brenden Aaronson at Homegrown Game". ProSoccerUSA. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  12. Ralph, Matthew (October 15, 2019). "Brenden Aaronson finishes second in Rookie of the Year award voting". Brotherly Game.
  13. "Brenden Aaronson | USMNT | U.S. Soccer Official Site". www.ussoccer.com.
  14. Jonathan Tannenwald (December 30, 2019). "Union's Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie on first USMNT roster of 2020". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
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