{"id":263985,"date":"2026-09-23T06:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/how-leeds-wasted-24m-on-a-worse-signing-than-aaronson\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T06:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:10:11","slug":"how-leeds-wasted-24m-on-a-worse-signing-than-aaronson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/how-leeds-wasted-24m-on-a-worse-signing-than-aaronson\/","title":{"rendered":"How Leeds wasted \u00a324m on a worse signing than Aaronson"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There has inevitably been chatter around the strength of Leeds United<\/a>‘s attacking options after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace on Sunday.<\/p>\n

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The Whites head into the extended three-week break for international matches off the back of an unbeaten start to the season in the Premier League<\/a>, but they have drawn three of their five matches.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>Reuters\/Paul Childs<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Daniel Farke<\/a>‘s side only scored two goals in those three draws against Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Palace, and the spotlight is now on some of the club’s attacking players.<\/p>\n

One of the forward options who has come under some scrutiny from supporters is American attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, but he can be overcriticised at times.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Brenden Aaronson has not been a Leeds flop<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

It would have been fair to call the USA international a flop after his first season at Elland Road, because the club paid \u00a324.7m to sign him from Salzburg and he scored one goal in 40 games as they were relegated from the Premier League.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"brenden-aaronson-leeds-man-united\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Cathal Mcnaughton<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, since returning to West Yorkshire in the summer of 2024, after a loan spell with Union Berlin, the 25-year-old has proven himself to be a valuable, albeit offensively inconsistent, player for Farke.<\/p>\n

The German head coach started him in 43 of the club’s 46 Championship games in the 2024\/25 title-winning season and in 30 of their 38 matches in the Premier League last term, which speaks to his faith in the midfield talent.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Brenden Aaronson<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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24\/25 Championship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

25\/26 Premier League<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Appearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Starts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

xG<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11.43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances created<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

xA<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.05<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.63<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Assists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Aaronson can be ineffective offensively at times, evidenced by his current run of 22 league games without a goal, but a return of 13 goals and 18 ‘big chances’ created is far from horrendous in those two seasons.<\/p>\n

He can be frustrating at times, yes, but the attacking midfielder has done enough since returning in 2024 to prove that his career at Elland Road has not been a total flop.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Leeds wasted money on a worse signing than Aaronson<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Whilst Aaronson has turned his career in West Yorkshire around and prevented himself from leaving as a complete failure, the same cannot be said for some of the other players who joined in the same window as him in 2022.<\/p>\n