Buoyed after a stellar campaign back in the Premier League and the honour of representing his country at a FIFA World Cup on home soil, American international Brenden Aaronson’s enjoyable last few months took another exciting turn as he became the latest Leeds United player to sign a new contract.

The forward, who starred for the Whites under Daniel Farke last term, follows defenders Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle in committing their long-term future to the club in recent days. Grinning from ear to ear, he sat down with LUTV to discuss the deal that will keep him at Elland Road for three more years.

“I am feeling amazing,” he began. “It is a dream come true, being at this club and being part of this project. It is so ambitious. I am really looking forward to the future and, yeah, I am really excited for what is to come.

“First of all, it was never a doubt being able to extend my contract at this club if I was given the opportunity, just because of how much I love the club, how much I want to be here, how much I want to be a part of this amazing future and the ambition of the club. Yorkshire is my second home now.”

Having arrived in West Yorkshire aged just 21, Aaronson’s time with United has featured plenty of highs and lows he admits, yet those around him at Thorp Arch and beyond have played their part in helping this part of the world over 3,000 miles away from his true home feel like one. Repaying that, coupled with the direction of travel as we look to build upon last season’s 14th-place finish, left Brenden with little uncertainty in his mind.

“It is just something that I have always wanted to be a part of, playing in the Premier League and then, of course, seeing the future of where the club is going to take the stadium, the signings come in that we have had – everybody wants to be at this club. I love being here and it was just it was never a doubt. It is one big family. I can’t speak enough about the people around me.

“They have made me feel at home since the moment I got here, through ups and downs and all of it. I think the beautiful thing of it all is I get to be here and enjoy my football day in, day out. I want to do the best I can for this club and I think it shows by the way I play each and every game. I give my best. I try to work as hard as I can on the training pitch every day. I want to help this club reach where it is supposed to be.”

After scoring nine times enroute to the Sky Bet Championship title, the creative attacker continued his impressive form making the step up to the top-flight, netting four goals and grabbing five assists last term. The 25-year-old’s versatility also made him hugely important to Farke’s plans, featuring centrally in an attacking midfield role, on both flanks or even playing just off the striker, showing his tenacity mopping up the second balls or leading the press.

“The way I am in my career, my last season that I had at the club, I think I am on a trajectory that I want to be at,” Brenden adds, calm yet with an underlying sense of confidence and an eagerness to further develop. “I am continuing to get better and I feel good right now. I want to keep getting better and better. I am always aiming to be the best player that I can be so that means more goals, more assists.

“Off of last season, I can’t speak enough about how amazing it was. It was a fantastic group to come back up into the Premier League and have another shot at it for myself. I think we competed at such a high level through the toughest games in the league.

“This season, we have added more signings. We have brought in so many great players. I think that is just going to add to the quality of the group and push us even higher. The depth that we have in this team is amazing, too, so we can rely on the on the full team. I think the sky is the limit. Of course, seeing what the club’s ambitions are, having a record signing coming in, the plans of the stadium, it is amazing. I think it is such an exciting time to be a part of this club.”

With pre-season all wrapped up, attentions very quickly turn to Saturday’s Premier League opener at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest are certain to offer Brenden and his teammates a stern test in the campaign’s curtain raiser but the USA international is itching to get back out there on the pitch and do what he loves best.

“To be honest, I have never felt more excited for a season. I think in my whole career, this is the most excited I have been, you know, getting the taste of how successful we were last year and adding the quality that we have now. It is going to be a tough game but I think I love where the group is at. We have had a great pre-season together so we are really looking forward to the first game.”