Each transfer that gets churned out from the rumor mill has distinct pieces that make sense and ridiculous versions of the truth that are out of touch with reality. On the latest FIFAmerica podcast we discussed the recent rumors of Pepi to Wolfsburg and Aaronson to Leeds United. Let’s now break down the upside and downside to each potential transfer.
Ricardo Pepi to Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga
Pepi is a dynamic forward and at 18 years old essentially saved the USMNT World Cup Qualifying Campaign. It was a coming out party for Pepi on the national stage where MLS players are rarely recognized for globally-ready talent. It’s no surprise that Wolfsburg are interested in the American, but it is a surprise to some why Pepi would choose this path.
Upside: Wolfsburg are not in good form and haven’t won a game in 2 calendar months. Their coach is the same one that took Josh Sargent to the 2nd division at Werder Bremen. However this team is not that far removed on a player-by-player basis from the team that qualified for Champions League football in 2020. A rock-solid defensive structure paired with a solid midfield could provide opportunities for Pepi to insert himself into a starting lineup that is for all intents and purposes a strong squad. Recent form aside - Wolfsburg is a stalwart Bundesliga team that expects success at the top half of the table. As a USMNT fan the prospect is exciting for Pepi to come in and make an impact to a team that is historically a good Bundesliga team.
Downside: The coach Florian Kohfeldt is a coach that seems to be falling upwards. This is the same coach that did poorly in the development of Josh Sargent at Bremen, and on the club level Wolfsburg doesn’t have the strongest track record developing young Americans. Uly Llanez’ career is just now recovering while players like Michael Edwards and Bryang Kayo never got so lucky to make it out of the academy. Pair that history with the recent form of Wolfsburg and the sheer amount of strikers on the depth chart and this could be a recipe for disaster.
Brendan Aaronson to Leeds United in the Premier League
Aaronson has been linked to numerous clubs recently and this is the latest in line of realistic destinations for the young American.
Upside: At every step of Aaronson’s young career he has proven he deserves to be a part of the team. Whether it was coming up from the Union Academy, joining RB Salzburg before entering his prime, or the way he grabbed his opportunity with the USMNT this year with Pulisic and Reyna struggling with injuries. I have genuine faith that Brendan Aaronson would be successful at any club in the world solely because of his sheer will and drive to be on the field and make an impact for his team. Leeds as a team plays an extremely high press with players that don’t stop running. If that doesn’t describe Aaronson’s style of play then nothing else will.
Downside: Aaronson is still a very young and raw player who has only played one full season in Europe. This could be a move that happens too soon and delays the growth of one of our most exciting youth prospects. Leeds form like Wolfsburg in the Pepi saga is not in line with recent history. Only a few points off the drop zone, Bielsa would likely favor players with experience and knowledge of the specific system to ensure safety in the Premier League.
If you want to listen to the full episode you can do so on the substack, or visit the video version at