Leeds reached an agreenment to sign Brendan Aaronson
Leeds United will sign Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg this summer after they avoided relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Athletic understands Leeds will pay a fee in the region of $28 million for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder.
Leeds had attempted to sign Aaronson in the January transfer window.
The Premier League club made an initial offer of £15 million followed by an improved offer of around £20 million a few days later, but Salzburg were determined not to sell the United States international midway through the campaign.
They have now accepted an improved offer, however, with Aaronson poised to become Leeds’ first signing of the summer window.
The deal will also benefit Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union, who sold Aaronson to Salzburg in January 2021.
It is understood Philadelphia Union will receive a portion of the transfer fee taking him to Leeds as they negotiated a sell-on clause when he moved to Austria.
Aaronson moved to Salzburg to play under Jesse Marsch, the current Leeds head coach. Marsch is also understood to be very close to Jim Curtin, who managed Aaronson in Philadelphia.
The USMT star will play in the Premier League for Leeds and Marsch, after they preserved their Premier League status on a dramatic final day of the campaign.
Leeds beat Brentford 2-1 while their relegation rivals, Burnley, slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United.
