Who is new Eintracht Frankfurt signing Paxten Aaronson?

Philadelphia Union suffered MLS Cup final heartbreak against LAFC on Saturday but, for many, they have been the best team in MLS in 2022, scoring more goals and conceding fewer than any other. Given that not every MLS team tests themselves against the same opponents, it’s perhaps a difficult claim to back up, but those are impressive statistics nevertheless.

And the Union’s form, and that of one of its young starlets in particular, has not gone unnoticed in Europe. Current Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt have agreed a deal to sign Philly’s 19-year-old prodigy Paxten Aaronson, subject to the player completing a medical and agreeing personal terms. Several sources, including MLS ‘insider’ Tom Bogert, have confirmed that an agreement is in place, with the Bundesliga club snapping Aaronson up for a fee of just $4m plus addons and a sell-on percentage.

If the name Aaronson sounds incredibly familiar, then that’s because Paxten is the younger brother of USMNT star Brenden, now excelling in the English Premier League with Leeds United after a spell at Salzburg in Austria. And the younger Aaronsen’s career path is set to continue to follow the elder’s, with moves from their family home in New Jersey to Philadelphia and now to Europe.

Technically-gifted and comfortable playing with both feet, Paxten Aaronson made his Union debut at the age of just 17 in May 2021 and scored on his first start for the club against New England Revolution in August that year. The attacking midfielder, who likes to drop off the front to make the play, has made a total of 42 appearances for Philly in all competitions, scoring four goals, although he has been unable to cement a place in Jim Curtin’s first eleven, starting only two matches in the 2022 campaign. He did, however, come on to play the last six minutes of normal time and all of extra time in Sunday’s cup final and came seconds away from helping his club win the MLS Cup for the first time.

“He’s going to be really special. Obviously, there’s good genetics in the family.” Philly coach Curtin is certainly a fan and will be disappointed not to be able to call upon the teenagers’ services for the 2023 MLS campaign.

Aaronson is very much one for the future, as confirmed by his superb performances in the CONCACAF U20 Championships, played in the summer of this year. He won the Golden Boot, scoring seven times in seven matches, and was voted the player of the tournament as the USA went on to win the competition after a 6-0 victory over the Dominican Republic in the final, in which Aaronson scored twice.