Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Fri 20 March 2026 11:40, UK

Brenden Aaronson has been trying to prove the doubters wrong ever since joining Leeds United.

The American swapped Red Bull Salzburg for Leeds for around £25million in 2022 as a 21-year-old, making him one of the club’s most expensive signings.

The attacking midfielder suggested he hit the ground running at Elland Road as he bagged two goal contributions in his opening five games. However, that was as good as it got for Aaronson in the 2022-23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated and he added just two more assists that term.

The United States international opted to head out on loan to Union Berlin in 2023-24, rather than battling it out in the Championship, but to his credit, he helped Leeds get promoted in 2025.

Now, Aaronson has opened up on his Leeds transfer and the pressure that came with his big-money move.

Brenden Aaronson reflects on big-money transfer

Aaronson was one of Leeds’ top scorers in their Championship-winning campaign, with nine goals, but Whites fans were still not entirely convinced by him.

It hasn’t been until his third full season at Leeds that supporters have truly embraced the American, and that only came a few months into this campaign.

But even then, that relationship doesn’t seem the most secure, with Aaronson’s form taking a nosedive in the past eight weeks or so. And going by his comments, Aaronson still seems like he feels he has a point to prove.

He said on the Official Leeds United Podcast: “I can’t speak enough about their development, but Salzburg is not the biggest fanbase and stuff like that – no disrespect – but then coming to Leeds, I think I came in for 20-something million and I’m a big signing and on that first day you’ve got to be ready.

“You’re a kid so you’re like ‘I’m going to go out there and just do it.’ And the crazy thing was, I kind of came in and kind of started doing really well right off the bat and then you hit your kind of first roadblock and then it’s kind of hard to take it.

“I think it was hard because I think you’re so young and you’re not used to it and you don’t know how to really channel that energy like I need to, you’re just putting so much pressure on every performance – like I got to score, you know, I got to do this, I got to do that.

“And I think I was putting too much pressure on myself at the end of the day, and I almost hit burnout.”

As this Sofascore graphic below shows, Aaronson was ineffective in Leeds’ goalless draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday, so much so that he was hooked at half-time.

He hasn’t provided a goal or assist in his last nine league games, as the fanfare around his strong mid-season form dies down. His contract expires in 2027 and it remains to be seen if he will get a new deal.

The foundations for Aaronson’s success at Leeds have never looked that strong. He himself admitted that confidence is the biggest thing in football. Right now, he looks short of it.

Leeds fans can be fickle and while he has more credit in the bank now, their patience with him will grow thin quickly if he keeps up his current below-par form.

Leeds need Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing again

Another man who could do with a goal is Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, despite him being the West Yorkshire club’s top scorer.

The 29-year-old looked set to end his mini goal drought against Palace, only for him to put his penalty attempt wide.

The last time the England international scored in the league was on 6 February in a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest. He has been an excellent signing but if Leeds are to stay up, Calvert-Lewin needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch.

Leeds sit 15th in the Premier League table, just three points above a resurgent West Ham, who occupy the last relegation zone spot.

Next up, Leeds entertain Europe-chasing Brentford on Saturday under the lights at Elland Road.

If ever there was a time for Calvert-Lewin to score, it’s now.