Brenden Aaronson’s form is picking up with 2026 on the horizon.
Aaronson helped Leeds United earn a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday, setting up the Lilywhites’ equalizing goal at the Stadium of Light. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder now has three league assists on the season, with two of those coming in his last four appearances.
The host Black Cats struck first through Simon Adingra’s opening goal, but Leeds United would fight back early in the second half. Aaronson raced towards the 18-yard box from the right wing before drilling a low cross that Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked home for a 1-1 equalizer.
Aaronson played the full 90 minutes in the match as the teams shared the spoils from Wearside. The veteran midfielder earned Man of the Match honors, after completing his 18th appearance of the campaign.
Despite a slow start to the match, Leeds United’s second-half fight back has Aaronson pleased with the result overall against one of the league’s surprise clubs.
“We need to keep going, of course,” he said in a club interview. “It is a long season. We wanted three points, of course, but to get an away point like that is huge, so we are really happy about it.”
Leeds United will close 2025 in 16th place in the league table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Up next for Daniel Farke’s men is a trip to reigning league champions Liverpool on New Year’s Day before back-to-back matches against Manchester United (home) and Newcastle United (away).