The Leeds United playmaker has also spoken about the role Daniel Farke has played in his growth
Brenden Aaronson has outlined his mindset(Image: Sky Sports)
Brenden Aaronson says he wants to play at Leeds United for “as long as I can” after enjoying a self-confessed career-best season.
Aaronson has registered four goals and five assists in 35 Premier League games so far this campaign, having started 28 of them. A tame start to the season was followed by an impressive winter period of form, where he grabbed three goals and two assists in the space of a month between December and January.
Aaronson’s overall game has improved this campaign, having had to overcome critical sections of the Leeds fanbase, a few of whom booed the playmaker earlier in the season.
The American – who works with a personal performance coach that looks at the holistic picture of his game – has admitted he found this “tough” to take but channelled his efforts into his on-pitch performances, which have led to a productive season.
“I would say because of the league, of Leeds United as a club, and everything I’ve been through – I think it’s definitely been the best season of my career,” Aaronson told Sky Sports. “The level that I’ve played at I think has been amazing.”
Aaronson’s three-year stay at Leeds has included a loan out to Union Berlin for the 2023/24 season. The 25-year-old knew his return to Leeds would not be straightforward given his role in the squad that was relegated from the Premier League the season prior.
Aaronson ended the 2024/25 Championship campaign with nine goals and two assists having played in each game and started all but three. Yet frustration in his displays seeped down from the terraces from last season into this one, and in November, manager Daniel Farke launched a passionate defence of his player.
“I have to say what we are doing sometimes in criticising this young man, then we don’t have to do all these mental health awareness days,” said Farke. “We can criticise him for his performances, but what we do with him at the moment, I think it’s more than unfair.”
Aaronson says Farke has been a key cornerstone of his increased form both on the pitch and in the mind. He added: “It’s also credit to the coaching staff here, the coach [Farke] has done an amazing job helping me ever since I got back here.
“I think he knew how big of a club it is and knows that you can go through some stuff. He’s always had my back the whole time and it’s a credit to him because he has given me so much confidence.
“I’m really lucky to learn under him. He’s been teaching me a lot and also the staff around here, I think it’s just a great club top to bottom.”
Aaronson continued: “On the pitch he has taught me so much. I think last year I had my best goalscoring season and I learned so much.
“I was never a top goalscorer, I would always want to be creating and stuff like that and the guy who is playing the final pass.
“But I learned last year how to get in the box and score more goals and even this year, the goals I have been scoring have been goals I haven’t scored in the past. By learning little movements, going behind, or if I get the ball on the side, how I create little spaces to shoot.”
Aaronson has just over a year left on his contract having first arrived from RB Salzburg in 2023. The attacking midfielder – set for a home World Cup this summer – has no plans to move on, it seems.
He added: “It’s [Leeds] been an amazing fit for me and I want to play for as long as I can and create the best moments that I can.”
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