Intrigued by versatility
Brenden Aaronson has been excellent this season for Red Bull Salzburg. The 20-year-old has scored three goals and three assists in 14 games for the Serienmeister and, as a result, has been linked with a transfer away from the club—Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are a logical destination but the Germans face competition in Serie A club Milan. Transfermarkt has learned through multiple sources that in D.C. United talent Kevin Paredes Salzburg have already identified a replacement.
Paredes has been part of the latest wave of young talented Major League Soccer players. The midfielder, who has mostly operated on the left this season for the Washington-based club, has featured in 20 games across all competitions and scored two goals and two assists. Not a one-to-one replacement for Aaronson, Paredes has played a different role for D.C. United this season.
Including Brenden Aaronson: The most valuable players of the Austrian Bundesliga
The 18-year-old sees himself as a dynamic winger and, in an interview with MLSSoccer.com in September, has pointed out his admiration for Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies. “OK, this is a really good player that maybe I can start shaping my play around,” Paredes said. “I’ve been following him, following his tracks, how he plays, how he defends. He was an attacking player at Vancouver and in the academy before that transition to left-back, sort of the same position I’m in currently right now in the process of going to that more defensive role.”
Player Comparison
Red Bull Salzburg
D.C. United
£9.00m
Market Value
£900Th.
Attacking Midfield
Position
Left Midfield
Jun 30, 2025
Contract until
–
Full Player Comparison
Salzburg want Paredes – Versatility key for potential transfer?
Salzburg like Paredes’ versatility and believe that the player can grow into multiple roles once he makes the move to Austria. Whether that is in a more defensive role or at the center of the park where he can create more one-v-one situations remains to be seen. Either way, Salzburg are intrigued. Whether a transfer can be completed remains to be seen, Paredes’ market value is currently $1.1 million, but the 18-year-old is on an upward trajectory. Signed to a homegrown contract and, according to Spotrac, Paredes earns $100,000, he is ranked among the most valuable Americans born in 2003.
