Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Thu 16 April 2026 13:10, UK

You wouldn’t know it from his all-action, high-energy performances for Leeds United, but Brenden Aaronson doesn’t like running. He detests it, in fact.

“I know it seems like I don’t, but I just want to get the ball,” he told The Athletic in June 2025. “That’s the No 1 thing for me. I never have enjoyed it but I’m just good at it.”

That is a statement certain to have raised eyebrows at Elland Road. How could a player renowned for his lung-busting antics hate the very pillar of his game?

He is renowned for giving 110 per cent in every match, but in the eyes of some Whites supporters, he simply does not offer enough. He is a jack of all trades, playing as a No 10, central midfielder and in wide positions, but has arguably mastered none.

It is why Aaronson’s future at Leeds remains far from certain.

Brenden Aaronson deserves more credit at Leeds

By his own admission, the 25-year-old is at his best when harrying from box to box. That multi-faceted role allows him to shuttle the ball forward, often dropping below the radar as Leeds’ understated water carrier, as well as to stamp his authority at both ends of the pitch.

The big question for Daniel Farke, though, is whether Aaronson’s obvious flaws in attack can be forgiven because of his importance to how the Whites defend.

The long and short answer is: yes, absolutely.

He makes a substantial difference, but is too often not given his flowers. Even his fiercest critics must recognise him as a player engineered towards the greater good in an era when individual brilliance often steals the headlines.

His is a tricky balancing act which will never please everyone, but Farke has been happy to persist with him. It has, in fact, been symbolic of the head coach’s approach. Leeds – and Aaronson – don’t often take the handbrake off, but when they do, they can be sublime.

Aaronson has chipped in on the goals front this season, scoring four times and registering four assists. For a player focused on hunting down opponents and doing the dirty work, that is not a bad return. But he will be the first to admit that it hasn’t really been enough.

Farke deeply values Aaronson’s relentless work rate, proven by the fact that he is often the one tasked with leading his team-mates in the press. But his ability to influence proceedings on the ball hasn’t quite matched up to that, leaving the Whites with a dilemma.

Do they persist or go for a more attack-minded option?

His performance in the sensational 2-1 victory against Manchester United last time out suggests that it would be a mistake to drop him. Again, his work off the ball was crucial in springing the upset at Old Trafford, the hosts having never really gotten a handle on him.

Aaronson found space regularly and helped to drag Man United’s two midfielders out of position. This, in turn, opened up gaps for his team-mates to exploit. He also deservedly notched an assist, having nodded down for Noah Okafor to lash in his second goal.

His heatmap, courtesy of Sofascore, shows he spent much of his 86-minute outing operating in the right half-space. He took 45 touches at the Theatre of Dreams, recording just the one shot and completing 28 of his 32 attempted passes.

While he did lose possession eight times, his 14 carries made up for it. Defensively, he made one clearance and five recoveries, while also winning five duels in total.

Should Leeds keep Aaronson?

It has not all been plain sailing for Aaronson since arriving at Leeds. A clip of him losing the ball three times in 20 seconds during the dire 0-0 draw with Brentford in March was used as a stick to beat him with and definitively proved that his output on the ball remains limited.

It has taken him time to win supporters over, and even then, many are still not convinced. There remains a fracture after he was loudly booed following his return to Elland Road less than 18 months ago, having jumped ship after the Whites’ relegation in 2022-23.

Aaronson, however, has done all he can to repair relations. He cannot be accused of giving less than everything in every game. His work both in and out of possession has been crucial in helping Leeds pull six points from the bottom three at the time of writing.

He is committed to continuing to improve, too. A natural right-footer, his switch to the right wing caused its fair share of problems. But to work on jinking inside onto his weaker left boot, he curiously dribbled around the house with a small ball, tightening up his touches.

This quest to conquer the fine margins will undoubtedly serve his team well.

With Wolves next in town at the weekend, Farke would do well to stick with Aaronson. His display at Man United proved exactly why he is so important, but still so underrated.