European-based Aaronsons double as Paxten lands with Eintracht Frankfurt

The 19-year-old will follow in his older brother’s footsteps by moving to Europe

There is a new Aaronson in Europe, as Paxten joined his older brother Brenden on Thursday by completing a transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Aaronson, 19, joins the German side after spending two seasons with the Philadelphia Union. Just like Brenden, Paxten left the Union for a European team in a multi-million dollar move, with MLSsoccer.com reporting the deal is worth $4 million plus add-ons.

“Paxten has accomplished so much in a short amount of time. He has worked incredibly hard, and he has taken advantage of every opportunity with the first team, Union II and the U-20 National Team,” said Union sporting director Ernst Tanner.

“There has been interest in him for a long time, and we feel this is the right move for the club and the player, putting him in a good situation to continue developing in one the best leagues in the world. It is another great example of our development philosophy, and we are very proud of Paxten and wish him all the best at Frankfurt.”

Aaronson started only two games for the Union in 2022, as his path to more playing time was blocked by some of the club’s outstanding attackers like Dániel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre and Julián Carranza.

But Aaronson made a big impression over the summer with the U.S. at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where he finished as both the tournament’s top scorer and best player.

Aaronson will join Eintracht in January, but it seems as though he is being eyed more for the 2022-23 campaign, with the club currently in fourth place in the Bundesliga and having reached the Champions League last 16.

“He’s a very young player, a highly talented and really gifted player who will give us a huge amount of variety in attack in the future,” said Timmo Hardung, head of first team football at Eintracht.

“We’ve got a very clear plan for how we want to gradually and carefully build him up. And part of that is he’s coming to us in January to start getting used to everything here so that ideally he’s ready to hit the ground running in the new season.”

[lawrence-related id=9809,9800,9784]

Jackson Hopkins, US Under-20s not feeling the pressure at CONCACAF U-20 Championship

“The coaches gave us the confidence… We didn’t need to feel any pressure.”

The U.S. under-20 men’s national team could have been forgiven for carrying a burden from past troubles into the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, but according to D.C. United attacker Jackson Hopkins, the group approached the tournament—which serves as qualifying for both the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics—with confidence.

Speaking exclusively with Pro Soccer Wire a day after the U.S. clinched their first Olympic berth since 2008 with a 3-0 win over Honduras, Hopkins said that rather than look at qualification from a position of feeling pressured, the team was hyped for the opportunity.

“I think everyone is just more excited to play in an environment like that, than they are nervous or anything,” said Hopkins, who spent his 18th birthday on the field for the final 19 minutes as the U.S. held Honduras off to qualify for Paris 2024. “No one really felt any real pressure, they’re just excited, and had confidence. The coaches gave us the confidence, and all the preparation that we needed to know that we’d do well. We didn’t need to feel any pressure.”

For Hopkins, it’s been a whirlwind. Barely 11 months ago, he was making his pro debut for D.C.’s USL Championship affiliate Loudoun United as a 17-year-old academy player. Since then, the Fredericksburg, Va. native was called in for D.C.’s preseason camp (where he scored against Inter Miami), culminating in an MLS Homegrown contract signed in late April and five league appearances.

And now to all of that, you can add qualifying for two major youth international tournaments, breaking a run of heartbreak for U.S. Soccer on the men’s YNT side of the program.

“It’s been really quick. Last, like a year ago, I was in Dallas with the u-17s, so it’s definitely been quick,” said Hopkins with a smile. “I played my first game for Loudoun end of July (2021). So I don’t know, I’m just enjoying it, and every opportunity I get, I feel like I’ve done well. So that’s just what I’m trying to do is take every opportunity I get.”

The experience has been something a bit different for Hopkins and the entire U-20 team. CONCACAF produces situations that MLS, USL, and academy play don’t replicate. Fans tossed drinks onto the field during the second half of Friday’s win against Honduras, while the quarterfinal win over Costa Rica that clinched a World Cup spot ended with a scuffle that saw CONCACAF doling out suspensions.

Hopkins said he sees the environment as something to carry forward in his career.

“It was a crazy atmosphere, all the whistling, and people throwing bottles on the field,” said Hopkins. “I think it’s good to play in an environment like that at this age, just to get the experience early, and know what it’s like to play in a hostile environment like that.”

Hopkins described the entire tournament as “intense,” noting that the team has largely spent its down time resting and relaxing during an event that packed four knockout rounds into nine days. He also credited the preparation head coach Mikey Varas and his coaching staff provided for seeing the team through the challenge.

“Pre-camp I think definitely helped us. You got everyone understanding the style, the press and everything that Mikey (Varas) wants to play. He made it clear for everyone,” explained Hopkins. “The video (sessions) and everything sets us up perfectly to know exactly where the space is, how to win the game, so it helped.”

The U.S. squad has had to bond quickly, but according to Hopkins, it hasn’t been very difficult. “I think it’s been pretty easy for me actually, just because I’m playing against at least half the team since I was 13-14,” he said, alluding to the fact that the Philadelphia Union have four players on Varas’ roster, and two more come from the New York Red Bulls. “I think the coaches have also done a good job of pointing out everyone’s strengths and stuff, so we all know each other pretty well.”

One theme that Hopkins and the U-20s are looking to take with them into Sunday’s final against the Dominican Republic is that this is a special moment for all of them.

“It’s not an environment everyone gets to play in,” said Hopkins. “I think everyone knows, it might not happen again for them, an environment like that.”

[lawrence-related id=4054,3096,3976]

US Under-20s qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

The US men, for the first time in 15 years, are back in the Olympics

For the first time in 15 years, the United States will have a team at the Olympic men’s soccer tournament.

A confident 3-0 win over Honduras at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualified the USYNT for Paris 2024, with Paxten Aaronson, Alejandro Alvarado Jr., and Quinn Sullivan all bagging first half goals.

The victory means that the Under-20s—who qualified for next year’s Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia by beating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal round Tuesday night—sealed their return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2008 Beijing games.

The U.S., displaying some serious swagger in possession, couldn’t have asked for a better start. Paxten Aaronson glanced home Brandan Craig’s free kick just three minutes in, stunning a vociferous crowd in San Pedro Sula.

More fine USYNT work created a second in the 22nd minute, though it did require a good slice of luck. The U.S. moved the ball adroitly through the middle before going wide left, and a cross from Mauricio Cuevas picked out Alvarado. The FC Vizela youngster’s improvised finish went right at Honduras goalkeeper Juergen Garcia, but slipped through his grasp and fell just over the line.

The lead grew just before halftime, with Caden Clark rounding Garcia and shooting. Honduras missed a clearance on the line, and Quinn Sullivan raced in to tap the ball over the line.

Honduras lifted their game in the second half, pinning the U.S. back for a long spell, but Craig’s long-range free kick cracking off the post was the closest either team game to another goal. Jefryn Macías was sent off for a nasty studs-up challenge on Nikolas Tsakiris in the 87th minute

The U.S. still has work to do at the U-20 Championship, as they face the Dominican Republic—who are on a Cinderella run through the tournament—in the final on July 3.

The goals that sent the US U-20s to the Olympics

[lawrence-related id=3976,3096,3207]

Cowell, Clark headline USMNT roster for CONCACAF Under-20 Championship

The U.S. is aiming to qualify for the U-20 World Cup and its first Olympics since 2008

U.S. Under-20 men’s national team head coach Mikey Varas has named his 20-player roster for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, which kicks off later this month.

Among the headliners are two players who have been called to the senior national team, Cade Cowell and Caden Clark. Cowell’s call-up is especially notable given a report from ESPN last month that he was obtaining Mexican citizenship with a view toward possibly representing Mexico in the future.

Another player called in with the ability to represent Mexico is Obed Vargas. The 16-year-old has been a breakout star with the Seattle Sounders this season and will join up with the U.S. U-20s after the group stage.

The CONCACAF Under-20 Championship will take place between June 18 and July 3 in Honduras. The tournament will serve as qualifying for both the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The U.S. will face Saint Kitts and Nevis, Canada and Cuba in group play.

USMNT U-20 roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas)

DEFENDERS (6): Noah Allen (Inter Miami CF), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy), Michael Halliday (Orlando City SC), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy) 

MIDFIELDERS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (FC Vizela), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls) Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC)

FORWARDS (3): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United FC)

[lawrence-related id=3063,3075,3046]