The Medford, New Jersey native signs First Team contract with Philadelphia beginning in the 2019 season; 17-year-old originally joined Union Juniors at age 10, now becomes Union’s sixth current homegrown player as well as the first born in New Jersey.

CHESTER, Pa. (September 17, 2018) – Philadelphia Union announced today that midfielder Brenden Aaronson has signed a professional contract with the club, becoming a homegrown player. A 17-year-old attacking midfielder from Medford, New Jersey, Aaronson becomes the sixth current Union homegrown as well as the ninth all-time.

The signing is for Aaronson to officially join the Union for the 2019 Major League Soccer season.

“It’s a special moment for all of us in the Philadelphia Union family to welcome Brenden to the First Team as a Homegrown Player,” said Chris Albright, Union Technical Director.

“Brenden has earned this contract through his hard work in training and his play with Bethlehem Steel FC and the Union Academy.

This is another signing that we believe is reflective of our club’s philosophy and our ownership’s commitment to developing local talent.

We’d like to congratulate Brenden and his family on his decision to turn professional.”

The Union’s first-ever homegrown born in New Jersey, Aaronson joins the club in the midst of a season in which he has appeared for Bethlehem Steel FC 12 times as an amateur.

In total, Aaronson has appeared in 18 matches over the past two seasons with Steel FC, starting nine contests and gaining 783 minutes of experience against professionals.

Earlier this season, Aaronson scored his first USL goal and added his first USL assist in a breakout performance against Atlanta United 2 (July 29), a 4-1 win.

For his efforts, Aaronson became the first active member of the Philadelphia Union Academy to earn USL Team of the Week honors.

He added his second assist as part of a 2-0 win against Toronto FC II (August 16).

Aaronson is a United States youth international, last being called up by the Under-19 National Team as part of the inaugural Men’s YNT Summit Camp from January 2-11, 2018.

He joined the Union Juniors at the age of 10 and also starred for the Union Academy, last appearing 14 times for the U-19s in the 2017-18 season, scoring six goals. He previously played for NJ Real and Medford SC.

Aaronson is slated to join Anthony Fontana, Derrick Jones, Mark McKenzie, Matt Real and Auston Trusty as homegrown players on the Union’s active roster.

TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign midfielder Brenden Aaronson as a homegrown player on September 17, 2018, with the signing beginning in the 2019 MLS season.

Born: October
Weight: 148
Height: 5’10”
Position: Midfielder
Name: Brenden Aaronson2000 in Medford, NJ
Hometown: Medford, NJ
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Philadelphia Union sign midfielder Brenden Aaronson as a Homegrown Player on September 17, 2018, with the signing beginning in the 2019 MLS season 22.