USMNT’s Brenden Aaronson has relegation release clause in Leeds United contract - The Athletic 29/5/23
By Tom Bogert and Phil Hay
U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson has a
relegation release clause in his Leeds United contract, sources with direct
knowledge of the deal tell The Athletic.
Leeds’ relegation was confirmed on the final day of the
Premier League season with a 4-1 loss to Tottenham. They finished 19th in the
table with 31 points and will spend the 2023-24 season in the Championship.
The relegation release clause means Aaronson has a much more
likely route to departing the club this summer, with interested clubs needing
only to trigger the clause to open contract talks. Sources are expecting the
clause to be triggered this summer.
Leeds signed Aaronson last summer for £25million ($30m) from
RB Salzburg, which would have made a transfer this summer more complicated if
not for the clause. Leeds will undoubtedly want to recoup their investment or
hope the American would stick around for the promotion push.
Leeds agreed to sign Aaronson prior to the end of the season
last year but dependent on them staying in the Premier League. They survived on
the final day of the season and the deal was soon executed.
Leeds’ pursuit of Aaronson started under former head coach
Marcelo Bielsa in the winter, with numerous bids rejected by Salzburg in
January. Their interest continued under Jesse Marsch, who worked with Aaronson
at Salzburg for half a season, before eventually getting the deal over the
line. Marsch was sacked in February.
Leeds’ relegation likely means a departure for the squad’s
other two Americans as well. On-loan midfielder Weston McKennie will return to
Juventus and Tyler Adams is expected to depart as well.
Aaronson, 22, appeared in 36 of the club’s 38 league games
this season but hasn’t started in more than a month. He broke through at the
Philadelphia Union before transferring to RB Salzburg, where he stayed for a
year and a half ahead of Leeds.
The attacker has won 29 caps with the USMNT, appearing in
all of his country’s four matches at the 2022 World Cup.
