Leeds agree transfer for RB Salzburg star Brenden Aaronson in five-year deal after surviving Premier League relegation

LEEDS have agreed the signing of attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg for a reported £25million.

The American star is the Elland Road club's first transfer of the summer after they dramatically survived relegation on the final day.

Aaronson, 21, will join his new club on July 1 after he pens a five-year contract in Yorkshire provided he gets international clearance and a work permit.

The delighted star posed for photographs in his new training kit holding an iconic white, blue and yellow scarf on Thursday after completing his medical.

Aaronson said: "It's awesome here. Me and my girlfriend were in the car looking around. It's beautiful and we're really looking forward to living here.

"It's a humongous, historic club and it's everything I have always wanted to be a part of.

The feeling I got from Victor (Orta), the club in general, fans, players - I feel it's a perfect match for me."

But before getting to work with Leeds, he will be linking up with his national team for their upcoming matches against Morocco, Uruguay, Grenada and El Salvador.

The attacking midfielder made 41 appearances in all competitions for Salzburg last season, providing ten assists and scoring six goals.

He helped the club win the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup for the second season in succession as well as reach the Champions League last 16, providing both assists in the 8-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich.

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And the 18-cap USA international also helped his country qualify for this winter's World Cup in Qatar.

Now he will be hoping to link up well with compatriot Jesse Marsch in his first season in England.

The pair worked together for the first six months of 2021 before Marsch left to take over at sister-club RB Leipzig in Germany.

But the manager knows all about Aaronson's talents after watching him in the MLS and then bringing him to Europe.

He is able to play centrally or out wide and has forged a reputation for his dribbling and passing quality.

And the former Philadelphia Union ace will also be willing to buy into Marsch's high-intensity pressing out of possession.

Aaronson added to Leeds Live: "It's a really good feeling. It wasn't just Jesse that swayed me to come here, but the club in general, too.

"But being reunited with Jesse and work under him - I feel like my game took a huge boost under him for the first half a year.

"I feel like I was getting goals and assists, and playing at a high level under him.

"I didn't know Jesse before Salzburg, but we have a good relationship - and not just because we're both American!"