Paxten Aaronson discusses prep for 2021 season, training stint with Werder Bremen in Keeping It Simple podcast

Paxten Aaronson is officially a member of the Philadelphia Union now with his first team contract kicking in on the first day of the year along with Jack McGlynn, Nathan Harriel, Brandan Craig and Quinn Sullivan.

The 17-year-old from Medford, N.J. joins the same day his older brother, Brenden Aaronson, officially joins Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

Paxten recently discussed his preparation for his first season on the first team in an interview on the Keeping It Simple podcast and mentioned that he had a training stint in Germany with Werder Bremen in October.

“I thought I played well,” he said. “I was like I was obviously a little nervous going into it just because I wanted to make an impact and I wanted to start off on the right foot, but the pace and like just everyone being so physical and stronger you definitely have to learn and adapt quickly. I thought it was good.”

Aaronson was also planning to join Hoffenheim for a training stint but ended up returning home early because of restrictions being put in place for Covid-19 prevention.

With Brenden now moving abroad, the talk about Paxten (that he’s maybe even better than his brother?) will only intensify along with the expectation. The Union are in the market for an attacking midfielder to fill the rather large void left by Brenden’s departure so the expectation going into the season won’t be for the high school junior to start right away.

“For me coming in as the younger guy just trying to get off on the right foot and impressing the coaches and earning all the players respect and hopefully getting rostered and hopefully getting some minutes,” he said. “But it just all starts with preseason when we go to Florida, just making that first impression and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

Listen to the Keeping It Simple podcast interview with Paxten Aaronson