Sport: Soccer
Born: October 22, 2000
Town: Medford, New Jersey
Brenden Russell Aaronson was born October 22, 2000 in Medford, NJ. His father, Rusty, played soccer for Monmouth University. Quick, smart and aggressive, Brenden was a standout scorer and playmaker in youth soccer by the age of 8. His dad established a travel team, Real New Jersey, to help develop Brenden’s skills. He also built a mini-field in the family basement for Brended and his brothers, Paxten and Jaden. Brenden started as a freshman for Shawnee High School, one of the top soccer schools in South Jersey. Some started calling him the “Medford Messi.”
The Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer selected Brenden for its youth program and he spent the next three years playing soccer and going to high school across the Delaware River. In 2017–18, he played for Bethlehem Steel FC, an affiliate of the Union. Indiana University offered Brenden a scholarship, but he chose to go professional when Philadelphia offered him a contract.
Brenden made his MLS debut for the Union in March 2019 and quickly became a starting midfielder. Philly went 16–11–7 and made the playoffs. Brenden had three goals and two assists and finished runner-up in the MLS Rookie of the Year voting. The Union beat the Red Bulls in the opening round and lost to Atlanta United in the conference semifinals. In 2020, Brenden earned his first Team USA cap against Costa Rica and scored his first international goal against El Salvador.
Following the 2020 MLS season, during which Brenden scored four times and was named to the Best XI team, he joined Red Bull Salzburg for a reported $6 million transfer fee—the highest ever for a homegrown MLS player. He scored in his first game for the club, a 2–0 friendly victory over SK Vorwarts Steyr. In May, he scored a goal in Salzburg’s 3–0 victory in the Austrian Cup final.
In 2021, Brenden’s younger brother, Paxten, was promoted to the Philadelphia Union.
Brenden’s development accelerated in Europe. He brought great energy and skill to the game as an attacking midfielder and wing. After his second season with Salzburg, Brenden signed a five-year contract with Leeds United of the Premier League. He scored his first goal for Leeds in a win over Chelsea—their first victory over the Blues in two decades.
American soccer fans were thrilled when Brenden was named to the World Cup squad. He created all kinds of problems as a second-half sub in close games against Wales, England and Iran.