UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 10:17 am ET: As first reported by MLSsoccer.com, the Philadelphia Union have signed midfielder Paxten Aaronson to a Homegrown contract. The deal kicks in next season and Aaronson will remain with Union II for the rest of 2020.
Paxten, who turns 17 next week, is the younger brother of Union rising star Brenden Aaronson.
"At 16-years-old, Paxten already knows how to create opportunities for himself and his teammates on the pitch,” sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a club statement. “He has impressed our technical staff with his ability to play a final ball and he’s an intelligent player and a hard worker who gives everything for this club. Paxten exemplifies our commitment to developing academy players and we look forward to welcoming him to the team.”
ORIGINAL, FRIDAY 9:22 am ET: The Philadelphia Union have signed 16-year-old midfielder Paxten Aaronson to a Homegrown contract, sources have told MLSsoccer.com. Paxten is the younger brother of Brenden Aaronson, who is in his second season with the Union first team.
Aaronson made his USL Championship debut in July then earned his first start at the beginning of August in his side’s 3-2 win over New York Red Bulls II. He's made four appearances for Union II thus far.
Like his older brother, Paxten is a hard-working attacking midfielder who can impact the game on both sides of the ball.
“He’s a really, really good player,” Brenden told Ryan Lawrence of The Sun Papers about Paxten. “I love watching him play. A lot of people say we’re comparable, but I think we’re a little bit different. But he’s an amazing player and I can’t wait to watch him play and see how his path goes.”
So far, Paxten’s path is just like Brenden’s: From the Union academy, to Union II to the first team.
Aaronson is latest player to graduate from the academy into the first team, joining his brother, Mark McKenzie, Matthew Real, Jack de Vries and more.
After a strong run to the semifinals of the MLS is Back Tournament, the Union resume their season on Friday, Aug. 21 against the New England Revolution (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada). Philly currently sit on eight points after five regular season matches in the Eastern Conference.
