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All the live updates, records and chatter from the latest round of the Ranji Trophy

Hemant Brar25-Dec-2019

The January transfer window is set to slam shut on Thursday and Celtic could be in for a busy few days of business before the deadline passes.

Brendan Rodgers watched on as his side scraped a 1-0 win over Ross County in their Scottish Premiership return on Saturday, thanks to a goal from Alistair Johnston in the first minute.

The Hoops had 70% of the ball and took 17 shots at the opposition's goal but failed to find the back of the net after that stunning start to the game, with Luis Palma's missed penalty in the 28th minute contributing to that failure.

Nicolas Kuhn, who was signed from Rapid Wien earlier this month, came off the bench to make his debut for the Bhoys but he may not be the last attacking addition to the squad before the window slams shut.

Football Insider previously reported that Rodgers would like to bring in another number nine to bolster his squad, along with a left-back and a goalkeeper.

Celtic's search for a striker

Celtic's search for a striker appears to be nearing a conclusion as they have identified the son of one of their former centre-forwards – Pierre van Hooijdonk – as a target.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claims that Sydney van Hooijdonk is looking to move on from Serie A side Bologna before the end of the window.

The journalist adds that the Hoops have been keeping tabs on the Dutch youngster for 'some time' and that the club are in the market to bring in another striker.

However, he did state that the Scottish giants have not made contact with Bologna over a deal to sign the 23-year-old marksman at this stage.

Meanwhile, TNT commentator Paul Dempsey claimed on Saturday evening, as relayed by the Daily Record, that a move to Parkhead is "on the cards" for the young attacker.

He was on duty for Bologna's Serie A clash with AC Milan and noted that van Hooijdonk was absent from the matchday squad for the Italian side, as an apparent switch to Scotland could be on.

However, it remains to be seen how close a deal is or how much the Bhoys would be willing to pay for his services, and if it is enough to tempt the Serie A team into cashing in on him.

If Rodgers does secure a swoop for van Hooijdonk before the deadline passes on Thursday then the Northern Irish head coach could land an exciting partner for Kyogo Furuhashi, as well as competition for the Japan international, at the top end of the pitch.

Kyogo's drop-off in form under Rodgers

The 29-year-old attacker enjoyed a sensational 2022/23 campaign under Ange Postecoglou to cement himself as a star for the Scottish giants.

Kyogo racked up a staggering 27 goals and two assists in 36 Premiership appearances for the club, in 31 starts, as he showcased his goalscoring quality on a regular basis.

His sensational form in front of goal earned him the PFA Scotland Men's Player of the Year award, which shows that the striker's peers recognised and respected his quality.

He produced an eye-catching 34 goals and five assists in 50 matches in all competitions for Celtic, which is a goal every 1.47 outings on average, as they won a domestic treble under the Australian head coach.

Postecoglou moved on from Parkhead last summer and was replaced by Rodgers, for his second spell, in the dugout and that change appears to have had a negative impact on Kyogo.

The Japan international has produced 11 goals and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops so far this season, which is a return of one strike every 2.82 games on average.

That is a staggering decline in form for the experienced centre-forward, who has not been able to replicate or kick on from his goalscoring exploits last term.

As you can see in the table above, the Hoops striker has struggled badly in comparison to his incredible performances during the 2022/23 campaign.

The signing of van Hooijdonk could help Kyogo by providing him with serious competition for his place, to drive his motivation up, and possibly a fantastic partner for him in the final third.

The stats that show why Celtic should sign van Hooijdonk

The 23-year-old whiz has struggled to make his mark in Italy this season, with one goal in 11 matches for Bologna, but has previously showcased his quality in the Netherlands.

Van Hooijdonk, who was once hailed as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, spent 18 months on loan with Heerenveen in the Eredivisie from January 2022 through to the summer of 2023 and caught the eye in front of goal.

The Dutch finisher racked up six goals, and only missed three 'big chances', in 13 top-flight appearances during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

He followed that first five months on loan up with a superb return of 16 goals, with only ten 'big chances' missed, in 30 Eredivisie starts for Heereveen over the subsequent 12 months.

Overall, van Hooijdonk produced 22 goals and only missed 13 'big chances' in 43 league starts on loan with the Dutch side, which is a return of one strike every 1.95 starts on average.

This suggests that the Celtic target has the potential to offer more in front of goal than Kyogo has so far this season, as his form for Heerenveen over that 18-month spell was more impressive than what the current Hoops ace has mustered up in the Premiership.

Van Hooijdonk could also be a fantastic partner for the Japanese dynamo as he excels where the 29-year-old struggles – in aerial contests with defenders.

He won 2.0 aerial duels per game in the Eredivisie last season, with a success rate of 45%, whilst Kyogo has won 0.2 per game, with a success rate of 20%, in the league this term.

The £7.6k-per-week striker could, therefore, provide a physical outlet at the top end of the pitch that would allow the current Celtic marksman to play off and around him without needing to worry about engaging in physical duels with towering Scottish defenders, which could free him up to focus on improving his output in front of goal.

This could make them an exciting pairing for Rodgers in the final third as well as excellent competition for each other to drive up the standards in training and on matchdays.

Steve Brown, a Manchester United performance analyst who was made redundant, has fired a parting shot at the club.

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• Brown has left Man United
• INEOS implementing cost-cutting measures
• Ex-employee gives advice to ownership

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After 23 years, Brown was relieved of his duties by United as INEOS implement vast cost-cutting measures. He worked as a performance analyst at Old Trafford, specialising in academy loans, and has issued a strong statement in which he has begged the new ownership not to "lose the soul of the club".

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  Per reports earlier this summer, United's new minority owner has implemented swingeing cuts that has seen 250 jobs removed across the board. Brown, at the age of 52, is now seeking alternative employment at a new club.

• WHAT BROWN SAID

  Writing on LinkedIn, Brown said: "So after 23 years of loyal service, my time has come to leave Manchester United, not by choice but via a redundancy program. Not the way I had dreamed, but these things are sent to test us. I have enjoyed some of the most fantastic times, met absolute legends of the game, and been part (only a small part) of some legendary moments.

  "Not sure what doors will open or what path to take at 52, but I will keep knocking on doors. I would like to think that my skill set is suitable for recruitment and would love to follow that route. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

  "I wish Manchester United all the best for the future. It has changed so much in 23 years, some good, some not so.

  "Don’t lose the soul of the club to save a few quid. The people who were there made it such a special place, rich with history. Onward to the next chapter."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  On the pitch, United are preparing for this weekend's Community Shield clash with Manchester City, before taking on Fulham in their Premier League opener next Friday.

Kane Williamson recovers from hip injury to captain 15-man squad to play England and Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2019Lockie Ferguson is set to make his Test debut over the coming weeks, having been named in a 15-man New Zealand squad to play England and Australia.Ferguson, who finished as second leading wicket-taker at the 50-over World Cup this summer, has played 44 white-ball internationals, but a Test call-up has escaped him despite an impressive first-class record on account of New Zealand’s strong seam attack.ALSO READ: Ferguson has sights set on Test breakthroughKane Williamson returns from the hip injury that kept him out of the recent T20I series against England to captain the side. There are two changes from the squad that drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka, with Ferguson and legspinner Todd Astle replacing fingerspinners Will Somerville and Ajaz Patel.”There’s no doubt Lockie has been knocking on the door for a while now and we’re delighted to finally bring him into the Test fold,” said selector Gavin Larsen.”It’s well documented he has raw pace, but he also possesses a quality bowling skill set and has proved his durability. He showed good form against England in the recent T20 series and backed that up with a solid outing for the Auckland Aces in the Plunket Shield, where he claimed 4 for 23 against the Wellington Firebirds.”Our pace bowling stocks are strong at the moment and we feel Lockie will add another dimension to the picture, and will create some great competition.There is also a place for Matt Henry, alongside established seam trio Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, and head coach Gary Stead has suggested that his side will learn from Australia’s rotation policy during the recent Ashes series as a blueprint for selection.”It would be silly for us not to look at that,” he told . “They did rotate their bowlers and it was horses for courses a bit. Like us, they have quite a bit of difference in their attack and definitely we have to consider that.”There had been fears that Williamson’s injury would keep him out for a prolonged period, and he has played only four games since the World Cup final on July 14. But he is set to lead the side in both series, starting with the inaugural Test at Mount Maunganui on November 21.”Kane’s made good progress over the past fortnight,” said Larsen, and we’re delighted to welcome back a player of his class and experience.”New Zealand Test squad: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson (c)Fixtures:vs England (home)November 21: First Test, Mount Maunganui
November 29: Second Test, Hamiltonvs Australia (away)December 12: First Test (D/N), Perth
December 26: Second Test, Melbourne
January 3: Third Test, Sydney

Former footballer Massimo Brambati has claimed, after hearing from an agent friend, that West Ham have made a late January offer to sign a new transfer target for David Moyes.

West Ham enjoying busy end to January

This morning, West Ham finally confirmed the signing of England international midfielder Kalvin Phillips on a season-long loan deal with a rumoured option to buy.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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The 28-year-old comes in as technical director Tim Steidten's first winter signing, and will provide solid midfield depth alongside the likes of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek.

West Ham have struggled in the middle of the park when Alvarez in particular has been unavailable, so Phillips' addition not only provides an experienced partner for the Mexican, but also a quality alternative.

Widespread reports claim the Hammers are also attempting to strike a late deal for FC Nordsjaelland winger Ibrahim Osman. The 19-year-old, who is a product of the "Right to Dream" academy in Ghana like West Ham star Mohammed Kudus, is a pretty raw talent but Moyes' side have moved quickly this week as they aim to secure his services.

West Ham are currently in talks to sign Osman before February 1, while the likes of Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma could depart Rush Green to make way (ExWHUemployee).

It's been a busy last few days in east London as the club seek to back Moyes with fresh faces, and it's now believed West Ham have made a late offer to sign an unfamiliar name.

West Ham lodge late Valentin Carboni bid

According to Brambati, speaking to TUTTOmercatoWEB Radio this week, West Ham have bid £11 million to sign Valentin Carboni from Monza this month.

However, the forward wasn't too keen, and is said to have rebuffed the approach from them. Commenting on the futures of a few up-and-coming Argentine talents, Brambati explained:

"The truth is one: an agent friend of mine was in Riyadh for lunch with Ausilio, I know that West Ham offered 11 million pounds for Carboni, who is at Monza, but he responded in spades. For Soulè an offer arrived from Crystal Palace and Juve said no and 22 for Yildiz and he said no. It seems that Ausilio said that I'm alone, because Zhang hasn't been seen for six months. This is why Lautaro and the agent also have doubts about the ownership, the ones we have. Lautaro no longer asks for 6-7 million, if Haaland gets 30 maybe he he has a Real Madrid that gives him 15 or a City that gives him 17".

The 18-year-old has made 14 Serie A appearances this season, scoring two goals and assisting two others, but it appears West Ham have some convincing to do if they're to make another offer. Interestingly, Carboni has been likened to former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Australia may also host India for a day-night Test next summer

Daniel Brettig22-Nov-2019Brisbane’s inferior facilities may yet see it hosting Afghanistan under lights in the first Test match of next summer, before the better-equipped venues in Adelaide and Perth claim the first two of four matches against India who are expected to be open to a day-night fixture for the very first time.Cricket Australia’s negotiations with the BCCI for next season’s Test fixtures will be aided by the fact that India will have finally played day-night matches by then, starting with a Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Friday.However as the Indian board’s administration makes numerous moves back towards more traditionally bullish postures – under the new presidency of Sourav Ganguly – there will be the question of how many concessions the BCCI will make to CA’s tour schedule preferences, which will include at least one day-night Test.The Test team will be eager for the advantage of hosting India at the Gabba, where they have been unbeaten against all comers since 1988, but this must be balanced with India’s desires and also the fact that Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium are a long way ahead of Brisbane in terms of amenities, likely crowds and capacity. Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, admitted to the possibility of the Gabba hosting Afghanistan for the first Test of summer before the India matches are played elsewhere.”If the Test summer proper did start that way, it’s a possibility, but there’s a lot to work through,” Roberts told SEN Radio. “We don’t have any preconceived ideas on that, we’re in the middle of executing the season, making sure we can deliver a really good experience to fans at the ground and through our broadcasters, and then we’ll get on to planning next season. We’re really keen on making sure we can learn from each season before we approach the next one.”From a playing perspective there’s no doubt there’s a very strong case for the Gabba to host the opening Test from a playing perspective, and that’s consistent with the comments from Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan and others. There’s a number of other perspectives though, we’ve seen governments around the country invest significantly in venues – a new stadium in Perth, the government’s invested upwards of a billion dollars in that, and that adds another dimension.”So you’ve got to consider the fan perspective, the players’ perspective, government perspectives, and that’s the beauty and complexity of sport, everyone has a piece of it, and it’s never simple to balance things across all of those different groups.”The Gabba has long drawn complaints about both its issues of accessibility – being surrounded on two sides by two of Brisbane’s major arterial roads – and also the lack of ambience within a concrete bowl suited far better to football than cricket.An investment of some A$35 million has been pledged by the Queensland state government to improve these areas in concert with the construction of a cross-river rail service linking the Gabba to the Brisbane CBD, though this is not expected to be completed before 2024. In a five-Test Ashes series, the Gabba is guaranteed the first match, but India’s preference for four matches makes things somewhat more complex for CA.”That $35 million will go basically into better amenities for the fans and it all leads towards the cross-river rail opening in about 2024, so a very different experience for fans not only getting to the match but a better experience of the facilities,” Roberts said. “So more contemporary spaces for fans to mingle rather than just coming along and sitting in a seat as you might’ve done 10 years ago.”Either way, the prospect of a day-night Test against India is growing by the day. “There’s no question day-night Test cricket needs to play a stronger role in the Test landscape going forward,” Roberts said. “We’re having productive conversations with India about the prospect of us playing day-night tests against each other in the future. Let’s hope this week’s experience in Kolkata is a really powerful one for them and a good experience that gives them more confidence about more day-night Test cricket to keep going forward.”

Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens revealed that he would have a new name on the back of his shirt from the 2024/25 season.

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• Gittens reveals why he will use a new name
• Played regularly for Dortmund last season
• Took father's advice before changing name

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 20-year-old attacker moved to Dortmund from Manchester City in 2020 before making his professional debut for the Bundesliga side in 2022.

  He appeared in 34 matches across all competitions in the 2023/24 season where he scored two goals and provided eight assists.

  The youngster played an important role in his club reaching the final of the Champions League.

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  After an impressive outing with the German side, Bynoe-Gittens has now revealed that he will start using a shorter version of his surname – which will be printed on the back of his shirt – from the upcoming 2024/25 season on his father's advice.

• WHAT JAMIE BYNOE-GITTENS SAID

  Speaking to Dortmund's official website, the youngster explained why he would just use 'Gittens' on his jersey, "Both are my father's names, but he said he thinks it's better if I'm just called Gittens because it's shorter. Most people know him as Gittens, so in the future, I'll only wear Gittens."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND?

  Nuri Sahin's side will play their final pre-season friendly against Aston Villa on Saturday before locking horns against Phonix Lubeck in their first competitive game of the new season in the first round of DFB Pokal on August 17.

With 11 days remaining in the January transfer window, West Ham United are yet to welcome a single reinforcement. And whilst they're far from in a position to panic, competing for a place in the Premier League's top six, they could yet solve some of the remaining issues in David Moyes' squad.

West Ham transfer news

Even amid a quiet window, the Hammers have been linked with a number of names, from Celtic's Matt O'Riley to out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in two deals that would undoubtedly hand Moyes a major boost for the remainder of the campaign. Moyes recently spoke about the potential of fresh faces this month, saying:

“We said right at the start that we wanted some outs before we had people coming in.

“Our budget isn't huge in this window. There's lots of reasons why there's probably not a lot of signings going on. We probably need to sell to get some other players in. If that’s the case then we’re probably in a selling mood, rather than a loaning mood.”

Despite that budget concern, however, a fresh report has suggested that the London club are ready to spend big. According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, West Ham are 'ready to smash their transfer record' to sign Victor Boniface this month, with technical director Tim Steidten reportedly pushing for the move. The Hammers' current transfer record stands at a reported €50m (£43m) for Sebastien Haller back in 2019, but it seems as though they are prepared to go above that to welcome Boniface.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward has been part of an unbeaten side under Xabi Alonso this season and could be a major coup if West Ham managed to secure a deal before the end of the month.

"Complete" Boniface could be West Ham's best striker

Boniface's stats instantly suggest that he'd immediately become West Ham's best striker and would be a major upgrade on both Danny Ings and Michail Antonio. Though he wouldn't come cheap, if Moyes' side are to shock the rest of England's first tier by challenging for a place in the top six, then proving that ambition by signing the Leverkusen man could be the key. Here's how Boniface has compared to Ings and Antonio so far this season.

That said, it's no surprise that Leverkusen manager Alonso has been so full of praise for his forward this season, saying via the club's official website:

"Victor is not only a good striker, he is a complete player. And you can see on and off the pitch then he gets on very well with his teammates."

West Ham will now hope to be the ones benefitting from that "complete" ability that Boniface has when leading the line. It would certainly be a statement deal if those at the London Stadium managed to pull it off in the next 11 days.

A look behind the scenes of the first player draft in UK sporting history

Alan Gardner21-Oct-2019″Build it and they will come.” So goes the mentality that seems to be underpinning the ECB’s bold gamble with the Hundred, which still sounds like a dystopian futurescape survivalist gameshow – and to those tweeting with the #OpposeTheHundred hashtag on Sunday evening, that is exactly what this thin-edge-of-the-wedge exercise in marginalising the county game is.Nevertheless, the scaffolding is in place and an army of eager hands are scurrying about their business – nowhere more obviously than at Sky’s studios in west London, where a bespoke set had been constructed for the televisual extravaganza that was the Hundred draft. A black runway stencilled with neon runes and flanked by eight brightly lit plinths at which the decision-makers sat hunched over their touchscreens, picking and choosing their way through seven increasingly slick rounds of squad building.This was all an event in itself, some nine months ahead of cricket’s newest format being launched in the English summer of 2020. Sky threw open the doors – after a certain amount of security vetting – to the great and the not-so-good of the UK cricket media, as well as the “influencers” whom it is hoped will bring access to a brand-new fan base. Nothing says “we are taking this seriously” like asking in advance for journalists’ dietary requirements (which are normally limited to “anything we can scoff”).Speaking of scoff, there were the obligatory offerings from the competition’s snack-giant sponsor; appropriate, given the whole concept of the Hundred is product placement on a grand scale.ALSO READ: Hundred boosts England’s bid to retain World Cup – RootDoes the public want the product? That question won’t have an answer for a while yet, but we are now firmly on the route march to 100-ball cricket. Ever since the surprise/botched – delete according to prejudice – announcement in April 2018 of the ECB’s wheeze to grow the game, momentum has been slowly gathering. From promoted content lurking in social media feeds to being discussed on BBC Radio 4’s , as it was last week, the Hundred is coalescing before our eyes.”May you live in interesting times,” as the apocryphal Chinese curse has it. And there was undoubtedly plenty of interest in what amounted to a path-breaking moment – the first player draft ever to be held in UK sport. It may not have had the decadence of the IPL auction (the top price bracket for a contract was a mere £125,000) or the sheer grandiosity of the NFL draft, which Sky had sent presenter Ian Ward to observe in order to pick up tips, but it had a certain heft and zing of its own as the eight newly minted teams came together.Not that there weren’t some issues during the somewhat frenetic opening rounds. Trent Rockets, who had drawn the right to first pick, took around 15 of the allotted 100 seconds to confirm their preference for Rashid Khan – and then they were off, a domino effect of causality as each team’s management, usually including an analyst or data guru, scanned the ever-diminishing list of options and those on the Sky sofas struggled to come up with incisive commentary – mostly consisting of “So who should these guys pick?” “Would you have picked him?” and “That’s a good pick” on sugar-buzzed repeat.The fact that some of the slots – each team had two picks at seven different price bands, from £125,000 down to £30,000 – had already been filled by the ‘local icons’, selected behind closed doors earlier this month, contributed to the confusion. As the camera skipped quickly from Manchester Originals to London Spirit to Birmingham Phoenix, then suddenly back to Simon Katich’s Originals (because Spirit and Phoenix had previously signed up Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali), it became a struggle to keep up.It was at this point the Manchester hierarchy slipped in what was probably the most astonishing selection of the night, taking Lancashire captain (and Kolpak qualified “local”) Dane Vilas for £125,000 despite his not having set a reserve price. But no time to discuss that because Steve Smith! Mujeeb Ur Rahman! David Warner! D’Arcy Short! On we go!View inside the studio ahead of the Hundred draft•Getty Images

To be fair, after two or three rounds of flustered scribbling on the helpfully provided draft grid, things began to settle down into an understandable rhythm, with interviews and analysis – rather than hypothetical musing – interspersing the “action” in the main studio. Though how many of the casual audience, who could also follow online via the BBC, the competition’s other broadcast partner, will have stuck with it for the long haul remains unknown.By the end of the process, when Luke Wright became the 96th player to be given a Hundred handshake, you could argue that things had gone pretty well. There were no technical glitches or hold-ups, the teams professed to being happy with their selections (and it was hard to argue with the concentration of talent in each list), and all of the players present were on message – albeit Sky had only invited in those certain of deals. Beyond a certain amount of carping at the number of Kolpaks winning “domestic” spots or the lack of any Leicestershire player being picked at all, the most difficult moments came for the camera operators trying to avoid catching Sam Billings or Jofra Archer eating their dinner while filming segments in the canteen.There was even room for an announcement of marquee players for the women’s competition – though given the ECB has made a big thing of the Hundred putting male and female players on the same pedestal, this was an occasion heavily orientated towards the men’s game (and that is without touching on the issue of pay).Perhaps most importantly, this felt like a recognisably “cricket” happening – bubbling along with enthusiastic discussion about squad balance and tactical options. And who would begrudge the likes of Max Waller or Benny Howell the opportunity to become household names? For a few brief hours it was easy to forget about the whole 100-balls lark, as if this, finally, were the star-studded launch of England’s first T20 franchise league. Now there’s an idea.After the World Cup and Ashes summer just gone – reminders of which were regularly on show – it remains a nagging doubt that a fourth format will merely serve to complicate matters further. And on a day that began with emotional sporting scenes in Japan, as rugby union made great global strides with its own expansionist tournament, while in the UAE the T20 World Cup Qualifier continued to offer cricket a path for growth, it seemed instructive that the ECB is spending millions of pounds simply to drum up interest in its own territory.But here we are, on the road to the promised land – or, at least, the highly leveraged land. In these divided times, whether the Hundred turns out to be a field of dreams or a waking nightmare may simply depend on your point of view.

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the midfielder to discuss his record move, challenges of Europe and his USMNT ambitions

Paxten Aaronson just wanted to be happy.

That's the simple answer and, in reality, are there many better answers than that? What's the point of all of this if you aren't chasing happiness? 

The life of professional athletes isn't always so simple, especially those in the spotlight. As a young member of the U.S. men's national team, Aaronson's dreams, ambitions and goals are on public display, particularly during transfer windows. It's one of the unique phenomena of this game – everyone in the world seems to have an opinion on what's best for you.

Aaronson made his choice. He left Europe, heading home to join the Colorado Rapids in a reported record $7 million deal. There were plenty of reasons behind it, and he stressed that the decision was not made without consideration for every potential scenario and ramification. But ultimately he valued his well-being over everything else.

"Of course, outside fans can all say what they think is best for your career," Aaronson told GOAL, "but I promise you that I've thought endlessly about every situation. I knew this was what was best for not only me and my career, but for my family and my well-being. I wanted to go somewhere where I was going to be my happiest playing soccer. I wanted to enjoy it. If you're not enjoying playing soccer, what's the point of even doing it? You play as a kid to enjoy it, and that's what Colorado can offer me.

"Before the transfer, I promise that I thought of every possible outcome and whether staying in Europe was right for me. But at the end of the day, I had to go somewhere where I was going to play because that's when I'm the happiest."

Fans don't always see athletes' careers through the same lens. They often want players to be challenged, to deal with the pressures of Europe, to test themselves to help maximize their talent. In Colorado, Aaronson faces a new kind of pressure. With the Rapids, Aaronson can no longer be just a guy. He has to be THE guy. He's no longer fighting for a place. He's fighting to prove that he can be a star attraction. 

The Rapids will only go so far as Aaronson can carry them. Is that enough? Does that, plus happiness, help a player fulfill their potential? And does that, ultimately, move Aaronson closer to achieving his ambition of representing the USMNT in a World Cup?

Aaronson is betting that the answer is "yes." He's betting on himself, all while acknowledging that his life needed this change.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Hardships of Europe

  In some ways, it begins with a fire. Literally.

  Having proven himself as one of the brightest stars in MLS with the Philadelphia Union, Aaronson earned a move to Germany in November 2022. He arrived at Eintracht Frankfurt a few months later, making seven appearances down the stretch to close that Bundesliga season. After starring for the U.S. U20s that summer, he returned ready to establish Frankfurt as a home base.

  Then it happened.

  "I'd found my apartment," Aaronson recalls. "It was beautiful. I came back that summer, did preseason, same apartment and felt like I'd established that as my home. That October, I was in Arizona for a camp and I got the call – my apartment was on fire. They investigated and everything. I was like, 'How severe is it?' They said, 'Yeah, all of your belongings, everything's finished."

  "I was staying in this dungeon of a hotel in the middle of Germany. It was literally depressing. It was freezing cold. It was the worst place I've ever stayed. That felt like the starting point. From that point, I was just constantly moving."

  In January of 2024, he was off to Vitesse for what was ultimately a doomed season due to the club's financial issues. Last season, he joined Utrecht, seemingly breaking out with eight Eredivisie goals to establish himself as one of the top young stars in the Dutch league. He returned back to Frankfurt this past summer eager to fight for a spot. Once it became clear that they didn't have one for him, Aaronson had to confront reality – he didn't know what was next.

  "My girlfriend hates the uncertainty," he said with a laugh, adding that one of the challenges of moving around Europe was the fact that she was not  able to get the visas needed to join him. "That's just the life of a soccer player. You learn to live with it. But we never really knew where we were going to be. My transfer to Vitesse was right on deadline day and I had to literally drive there and complete it. You just get used to these things.

  "The last two years were amazing for me, and I was coming off the best season of my career. But I knew I'd be happiest playing soccer and needed somewhere to play. I was getting that at Utrecht, and we discussed another loan back, but that wasn't ideal for Frankfurt. It was either stay at Frankfurt or move somewhere else. As the window got later, both parties agreed to find another solution. That's when Colorado came up."

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  Being the guy in Colorado

  The allure of staying in Europe was obvious. Conventional wisdom would say it was Aaronson's only choice. Players don't come back to MLS at 22, particularly when they clearly still have options abroad. Aaronson acknowledges that. And in truth, he had no plans of coming to MLS until Colorado popped up late in the window.

  For several years, the Rapids have taken big swings to sign American talent looking for a refresh. Zack Steffen, Reggie Cannon and Djordje Mihailovic have all joined the club from Europe. Coincidentally, it was Mihailovic's sale to Toronto that paved the way for Aaronson's arrival in Colorado. It's the biggest move the club's made to date, and one that shocked many on the outside. 

  “We want to bring in the best young players and build teams that are capable of winning trophies on our side, but exciting and entertaining our fans as well. And I think we had an opportunity here to do just that,” said club president Padraig Smith. “We love having this young, domestic American core, and we think we have a real chance to not only stay above the line, but hopefully push even further up and then ultimately challenge for trophies.”

  Coach Chris Armas deemed the move worthy of celebration, saying, “The top talent that we have, our league is great. Guys are developing. We should celebrate this day, and we should get excited that we get to see the best young talent that we [have] on display.”

  While that sense of home was key for Aaronson, so, too, was the soccer. The Rapids had a plan, and they offered Aaronson something he couldn't find in Frankfurt – the opportunity to be a major player, not just another player.

  "I think it's a mindset," Aaronson says. "If I'm in the game, how can I take over the game? At Frankfurt, maybe I was a little more hesitant to not make a mistake or those kinds of things. I'm never a player who played scared or anything. I always wanted to try stuff, but these are just different roles, you know? At Frankfurt, I'm with Mario Gotze, Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush, and these are guys getting sold for $100 million. Those were the stars of the team. Here, things are a bit different."

  He says he's embracing the expectations in Colorado, something that motivates him and made this a unique opportunity.

  "I just couldn't do 15-20 minutes a game because, as a person, for my headspace, it wouldn't have been good for another year," he said. "In Europe, I was a guy with nothing to lose, trying to prove and show people who I am. Here, they made me a big signing. They're expecting things of me. That's unique for a young player. I think that's what will get the best out of me. It'll make me work on different aspects of my game that I didn't have to in Europe. Leadership and being more vocal, for example, whereas in Europe, I was just another player on the team, grinding and looking up to everyone else. This gives me a chance to develop as a player, but also as a person."

  The Rapids, in truth, will only go so far as Aaronson can take them in the coming years. As the team's most expensive player, it'll be his name on the marquee, and his contributions that will be the difference between success and failure. It's one of the unique aspects in MLS. If your Designated Players aren't good, your team won't be either. The Rapids are banking on Aaronson being one of MLS' best.

  Is that enough for a player who wants to do more than compete in MLS? Is that enough for a player with Aaronson's USMNT ambitions?

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The USMNT effect

  Aaronson didn't speak to Mauricio Pochettino before making the transfer decision. The USMNT manager, to be fair, has generally stayed out of such talks. That said, though, it's not hard to imagine how Pochettino would feel about this move given all he's said about MLS.

  "We need to give MLS the value because competing there, I think the players can show that they can perform in the national team," Pochettino said after announcing his most recent roster. "I think it's not necessary to move from MLS to Europe, because sometimes the MLS – under my assessment – maybe is more competitive than some leagues in Europe. We have some players competing in different leagues that maybe are not so competitive, or in every single week compete in the same way that you compete in the MLS every single week."

  With Colorado, Aaronson will surely be tasked with competing, not on the practice field but in meaningful games. It's a different type of pressure, one that has to be acknowledged. Players in Europe face the pressure of keeping their spots. Aaronson now faces the pressure of putting his team in contention. Again, the question is simple: in a World Cup year, is that enough to keep Aaronson in the picture?

  Admittedly, it'll be tough. Aaronson played sparingly at this summer's Gold Cup, despite being in a squad missing multiple key midfield regulars. That, too, was part of the allure of the Rapids. While Frankfurt and other European options wanted him to play on the wing, the Rapids will play him in his preferred spots as a central midfielder, either as an eight or a 10.

  "Obviously, I thought about the national team because I want to be at the World Cup," Aaronson said. "I knew I had to go somewhere and, if I was playing five, 10, 15 minutes off the bench, I probably wouldn't have much of a chance, would I? The coaching staff here really emphasizes that you have to be playing real minutes. I agree. I'm in alignment on that. So, when you have a coach that doesn't put a big red X next to MLS guys, you obviously notice that. You know you can come back to MLS and not cross yourself out of the national team.

  "Americans, maybe we don't have to be so against MLS. It's a league that, of course, has room to grow. But I think it is growing and I come into it at a unique time with the World Cup coming to America and American soccer continuing to grow. That's one of the things that attracted me to the league – how much it's been growing."

  Aaronson, too, now has a place to grow, and also a place to put down roots to help in that pursuit.

• Colorado Rapids
  

  A place to call home

  Aaronson is settling into life in Colorado. He's found a nice apartment, although he hasn't spent too much time in it – such is the life of a professional athlete.

  On Saturday night, Aaronson had his biggest moment since joining the club, scoring his first goal of the season in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Colorado beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1. Aaronson scored on a header off a corner kick that redirected off a defender and slipped inside the back post.

  While that game was at home, his first two games with the Rapids were on the road, an early reminder of the realities of MLS travel.

  "I've come in at a good time with it being fall," he says. "The leaves are changing, and it gets beautiful up here in the mountains."

  Family will be visiting, of course. That part of life had been lacking for a while. At this summer's Gold Cup, older brother Brenden said that the family hasn't spent much time together in the last two years, particularly the two professional soccer siblings. 

  "It feels like we've flip-flopped over the last two years," Brenden told GOAL. "This has been the most time we've spent with each other since we were young, and that's just been really, really good for us."

  While Brenden is still half a world away in Leeds, Paxten is now on American soil, which makes everything logistically easier.

  "I love football, but I love my family as well, and you try to do your best to balance both worlds," Aaronson said. "I give a lot of credit to the guys who are out there and have girlfriends or whoever who can't live with them. It's different when you can't go home, even when you have a few days off. The rest of the European guys, the Scandinavians or French guys, they would just take a 45-minute flight or a train back. We Americans are just stuck out there, twiddling our thumbs to figure out something to do. 

  "Look, I had an amazing experience. I improved so much, the fanbases, the culture, everything was amazing, but I think people tend to forget that there's a human side of playing soccer and that soccer players are also humans that have feelings. They miss their families, too."

  With that part settled, Aaronson can now focus on the soccer. And while MLS is his new home, he's not ruling anything out for the future.

  "I'm still super young, so I think in soccer, anything is possible," Aaronson says. "If I just focus on myself and my own game, then I think the possibilities will be endless."

  It's now on him to prove it. He got what he wanted with this move, but now carries the pressure of a club that has invested heavily in his progress. It  also turned up the volume from outside critics, eager to say that he made the wrong choice. Fair or not, Aaronson will have to answer to those critics. He'll also have to answer to the USMNT, too, when and if that call comes.

  For now, though, he's just glad to have a place to stand. With those roots down, he believes he's now ready to grow – and be happy while doing so.

  "Coming back to MLS, it's something I'm familiar with," he says. "I'll have friends and family close by. I haven't been anywhere where I could really establish a home or a lifestyle. I've been on the road every year for the three and a half years I was in Europe. Rental furniture, rental houses, moving, moving, moving and, after a while, it takes a toll on you. Of course, I'm young, and it was a great experience, but after three years of doing that, I just wanted to settle down somewhere.

  "Europe was great for me. For a young guy like me, it was such a cool experience. But you don't want to be moving around your whole life. You can sacrifice two or three years of that. Eventually, it comes to a point where you want something you can call your home."