Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has had to deal with a lack of investment in the forward department since the club’s promotion to the Premier League last year.
In three transfer windows since they won the Championship title, the Whites have only signed one attacking player for a transfer fee, which was Noah Okafor from AC Milan for £18m.
The German head coach has had to cope with free transfers, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, whilst working with the players who came up from the Championship.
One of the players who has come up from the second tier and improved under the former Norwich City boss has been USA international Brenden Aaronson.
How Brenden Aaronson has improved under Daniel Farke
The American midfielder divides opinion, due to his inconsistent end product, but there is no denying that he is better now than he was in his first stint in West Yorkshire.
Aaronson delivered one goal and three assists in 36 matches in the Premier League for Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce in the 2022/23 campaign, before going out on loan to Union Berlin the following season.
The 25-year-old attacker then returned to play a key role in the title-winning campaign in the second tier, scoring nine goals in 47 matches, before starting regularly in the top-flight last term.
|
Aaronson (Premier League) |
22/23 |
25/26 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
36 |
37 |
|
xG |
3.86 |
4.55 |
|
Goals |
1 |
4 |
|
Big chances created |
5 |
9 |
|
Assists |
3 |
5 |
|
Duel success rate |
40% |
40% |
Aaronson was far more productive as an attacking force under Farke last season than he was in his first season in the Premier League, which shows that he has improved under the German’s coaching.
Not every player had as much luck in their redemption arcs as the USA international, though, as Jack Harrison failed to succeed in his efforts to follow in Aaronson’s footsteps.
How Brenden Aaronson ended Jack Harrison’s Leeds career
In the summer of 2025, after spending two seasons on loan at Everton in the top-flight, Harrison was given a chance to resurrect his career at Elland Road in the Premier League by Farke.
The English winger played 11 times in the division in the first half of last season, which shows that he was given plenty of opportunities to impress, but he was unable to deliver any goals or assists in those matches.
Meanwhile, Aaronson, who moved to a wide role last term, produced four goals and three assists before the end of January 2026, proving himself to be far more valuable to the team than Harrison.
The winger’s inability to outperform Aaronson eventually led to him being loaned out to Fiorentina in January before he was sold to New England Revolution in the summer transfer window, putting an end to his career at Elland Road.
Leeds have found their new Jack Harrison
Now, there is another player in the current first-team squad for Leeds who looks like the team’s new version of Harrison ahead of the upcoming January window.
Daniel James also came up through the Championship and up to the Premier League with the Whites under Farke, but he has yet to prove that he has the quality to be a reliable performer at the top level.
Since the start of the 2025/26 campaign, the only goal scored by the Wales international came in a win over Nottingham Forest in the League Cup in August.
The 28-year-old attacker is even less effective and consistent than Aaronson in the final third for Leeds, as evidenced by his return of one goal and zero assists in 26 matches in the past 14 months.
He has become a bit-part player in the Premier League because of his struggles in front of goal since the start of last season, starting just six matches in the division in that time.
|
Dan James in 26/27 Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Opposition |
Minutes |
|
Crystal Palace |
23 |
|
Newcastle |
12 |
|
Brighton |
0 |
|
Brentford |
22 |
|
Nottingham Forest |
0 |
James has yet to start a match in the Premier League in the current campaign and has been an unused substitute in two of the club’s five matches, coming off the bench in the other three.
The former Manchester United winger has not done enough in his cameos to suggest that he deserves a starting spot on the other side of the break, as he did not create any chances and failed to test the goalkeeper with any of his six efforts on goal.
Aaronson may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he is a useful squad player who has shown that he can contribute at times in the Premier League.
James, however, has yet to show that he can offer any value as an attacking threat, as Harrison could not when given a chance last term, and that is why he should be moved on when the next window opens for business.
