Paxten Aaronson
Paxten Aaronson | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 26, 2003 Medford, New Jersey, United States |
| Occupation | Professional soccer player |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Known for | Midfielder for Colorado Rapids and United States national team |
Paxten Reid Aaronson (born August 26, 2003) is a professional American soccer player who operates as a midfielder for the Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids and represents the United States national team.
Philadelphia Union
Aaronson rose through the ranks of the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy, participating in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. After five years in the academy system, he advanced to Philadelphia Union II, the club’s reserve squad competing in the USL Championship. He made his debut for Union II on July 22, 2020, coming off the bench against New York Red Bulls II.
In August 2020, Aaronson secured a homegrown contract with Philadelphia Union’s senior team, effective from 2021. He made his first appearance for the first team in May 2021 as a substitute during a 3–0 victory over the Portland Timbers. His first start came in August of that year, where he scored a crucial equalizing goal against the New England Revolution, which earned him MLS Goal of the Week honors.
Eintracht Frankfurt
On November 17, 2022, Aaronson transferred from Philadelphia Union to Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt for an estimated fee near $4 million plus additional performance-based add-ons. The deal also included a sell-on clause benefiting Philadelphia. Aaronson made his Bundesliga debut on March 19, 2023, entering as a substitute in the 82nd minute during a 2–0 defeat to Union Berlin.
Loan to Vitesse
On January 31, 2024, Aaronson was loaned out to Dutch outfit Vitesse for the remainder of the season. Although he featured in only 14 of the 34 league matches, he finished as Vitesse’s second-highest scorer with four goals, trailing only Marco van Ginkel, who netted seven. His impactful performances sparked interest from several clubs, including FC Utrecht.
Loan Move to Utrecht
On June 21, 2024, Eintracht Frankfurt prolonged Aaronson’s contract through 2028 and arranged a season-long loan to Dutch club Utrecht for the 2024–25 campaign.
Colorado Rapids
Aaronson made his return to Major League Soccer on August 21, 2025, by signing a five-year designated player deal with the Colorado Rapids, extending until 2030. The Rapids secured his transfer for a record-breaking $7 million fee. He made his first appearance on August 23, coming off the bench during a 3–0 defeat against LA Galaxy. On October 18, Aaronson netted his inaugural goal for Colorado in a 2–2 draw versus Los Angeles FC, a result that ultimately eliminated the Rapids from contention for the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs.
International career
In June 2022, Aaronson received a call-up to the United States national under-20 team for participation in the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Throughout the tournament, he scored seven goals across seven matches and was honored with both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
Aaronson earned his first senior cap for the United States men's national soccer team on January 29, 2023, appearing in a friendly match against Colombia. Subsequently, on October 8, 2023, he was selected for the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendly fixtures against Mexico and Japan.
Together with fellow FC Utrecht player Taylor Booth, Aaronson represented the United States at the 2024 Olympics, making four appearances and scoring twice, including a goal in the commanding 4-1 victory over New Zealand.
Personal life
Paxten Aaronson is the younger sibling of Brenden Aaronson, who plays midfield for Leeds United and the United States national team.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Philadelphia Union II | 2020 | USL Championship | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| Philadelphia Union | 2021 | MLS | 14 | 3 | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | |
| 2022 | MLS | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| Total | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 4 | ||
| Philadelphia Union II (loan) | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 10 | 5 | — | — | — | 10 | 5 | |||
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Eintracht Frankfurt II (loan) | 2022–23 | Hessenliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Vitesse (loan) | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 14 | 4 | 14 | 4 | ||||||
| Utrecht (loan) | 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 33 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 9 | ||||
| Colorado Rapids | 2025 | MLS | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | ||||||
| Career total | 130 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 148 | 25 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
Honors
Philadelphia Union
- MLS Cup finalist: 2022
Eintracht Frankfurt
- DFB-Pokal finalist: 2022–23
United States U20
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship winner: 2022
Individual Achievements
- Selected for CONCACAF U-20 Championship Best XI: 2022
- Awarded CONCACAF U-20 Championship Golden Ball: 2022
- Received CONCACAF U-20 Championship Golden Boot: 2022
- Named Eredivisie Talent of the Month: November 2024
- Included in Eredivisie Team of the Month: November 2024
External links
- Paxten Aaronson profile at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (archived)
- 2003 births
- Sportspeople from Medford, New Jersey
- Soccer players from Burlington County, New Jersey
- Living people
- American men's soccer players
- United States men's under-20 international soccer players
- United States men's international soccer players
- Men's association football midfielders
- Philadelphia Union II players
- Philadelphia Union players
- Eintracht Frankfurt players
- SBV Vitesse players
- FC Utrecht players
- Jong FC Utrecht players
- USL Championship players
- Major League Soccer players
- Homegrown Players (MLS)
- Bundesliga players
- Eredivisie players
- Eerste Divisie players
- American expatriate men's soccer players in Germany
- Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
- American expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- United States men's under-23 international soccer players
- Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Olympic soccer players for the United States
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- Colorado Rapids players
- Designated Players (MLS)