American Soccer Players in Germany: 2023/24 weekly update
Ever increasing numbers of American nationals are currently on the books of soccer teams in Germany, with the Aaronson brothers Paxten and Brenden joining in 2023 alone. But how are they, as well as the likes of Gio Reyna, Jordan and Joe Scally getting on in 2023/24?
bundesliga.com takes a look at their performances so far as the 2023/24 campaign starts to heat up...
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Attacking midfielder
Age: 20 (born November 13, 2002)
Bundesliga games this season: 0
Starts: 0
2023/24
Reyna took part in Dortmund's summer tour of his homeland, but did not feature in any games owing to a foot injury.
Last matchday
That same injury meant the 20-year-old is yet to play this season. Reyna has, however, been included in BVB's most recent match squads - the last for the win against Wolfsburg - and is edging ever closer to his first minutes of the season.
Watch: All of Reyna's Bundesliga goals and assists
Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Forward
Age: 27 (born April 26, 1996)
Bundesliga games this season: 4
Starts: 2
2023/24
After registering four goals and three assists in his debut Bundesliga season last term, Jordan faced even stiffer competition for a place up front after the arrival of Kevin Volland. As such, he has been allowed to move on loan to Gladbach.
Last matchday
Jordan scored Gladbach's first goal as they came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 away at Darmstadt on Matchday 4. He was on the losing side the following week as Die Fohlen went down at home against RB Leipzig.
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Full-back
Age: 33 (born 29 May, 1990)
Bundesliga games this season: 0
Starts: 0
2023/24
After being limited to just 87 minutes on the pitch throughout 2022/23, Chandler will be hoping for more playing time under new head coach Dino Toppmöller in this campaign.
Last matchday
Chandler wasn't part of the Frankfurt set-up for the 0-0 draw with Freiburg on Matchday 5, meaning he is yet to make a Bundesliga squad this season.
Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Full-back
Age: 20 (Born December 31, 2002)
Bundesliga games this season: 5
Starts: 5
2023/24
Now in his third full season with Gladbach, Scally - with freshly dyed blonde hair - looks set to make the right-back slot his own following the cancer diagnosis of fellow full-back Stefan Lainer.
Last matchday
Scally was in Gladbach's starting XI for the loss against RB Leipzig on Matchday 5, the full-back even picking up a booking before being subbed off with ten minutes to play.
Kevin Paredes
Club: Wolfsburg
Position: Winger
Age: 20 (born May 7, 2003)
Bundesliga games this season: 2
Starts: 0
2023/24
Paredes established himself as a first-team squad member last term, making 22 top-flight appearances, but a thigh strain suffered in pre-season ahead of 2023/24 set him back in the pecking order in Niko Kovac's side.
Last matchday
Paredes was unavilable for Wolfsburg's 1-0 loss away to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 5 due to a thigh injury.
Paxten Aaronson
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Attacking midfielder
Age: 20 (born August 26, 2003)
Bundesliga games this season: 2
Starts: 0
2023/24
After arriving in Frankfurt in January 2023, Aaronson soon impressed former head coach Oliver Glasner enough to make seven Bundesliga appearances. He has featured prominently for new boss Dino Toppmöller in pre-season but has Mario Götze, amongst others, in his way for a place in attacking midfield.
Last matchday
Aaronson remained on the substitutes' bench throughout Frankfurt's goalless draw to Freiburg - which extended their unbeaten start to the season. He is still waiting for his first start of the campaign.
Watch: Paxten Aaronson - Frankfurt's new US prospect
John Brooks
Club: Hoffenheim
Position: Centre-back
Age: 30 (born January 28, 1993)
Bundesliga games this season: 5
Starts: 5
2023/24
Brooks left Wolfsburg at the end of the 2021/22 campaign and moved to Portugal. However, the Berlin-born defender only made five appearances for Benfica prior to joining Hoffenheim just after Matchday 17 in 2022/23. He is now very much a mainstay in Pellegrino Matarazzo's side.
Last matchday
Brooks played the full 90 minutes as Hoffenheim picked up one more win this term, an impressive 2-0 triumph away at Union Berlin.
Brenden Aaronson
Club: Union Berlin
Position: Attacking midfield
Age: 22 (born October 22, 2000)
Bundesliga games this season: 4
Starts: 3
2023/24
Aaronson arrived on loan from Leeds United in July 2023, joining his younger brother Paxten in Germany's top flight. He made his competitive debut for Union in the 4-0 DFB Cup frst round win over Astoria Walldorf on 13 August.
Last matchday
With Alex Kral injured in the warm-up at home to Hoffenheim, Aaronson came in to make his third start of the season although he couldn't prevent his side suffering a 2-0 loss.
Watch: Brenden Aaronson arrives in Berlin
Lennard Maloney
Club: Heidenheim
Position: Defender
Age: 23 (born October 8, 1999)
Bundesliga games this season: 5
Starts: 5
2023/24
Maloney has his feet firmly under the table at Heidenheim following his switch from Borussia Dortmund in June 2022.
Last matchday
Maloney played the full 90 minutes as Heidenheim battled once again but were beaten 4-1 by Bayer Leverkusen after equalising in the second half.
Damion Downs
Club: Cologne
Position: Forward
Age: 19 (born July 6, 2004)
Bundesliga games this season: 1
Starts: -
2023/24
An U19s German Cup winner with Cologne last season, German-American Downs signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2023/23 campaign.
Last matchday
Downs made his Bundesliga debut as an 83rd-minute substitute for Linton Maina in Cologne's 2-1 loss at Werder Bremen on Matchday 5. He went within a whisker of equalising, heading against the upright in the 90th minute.
Related news
5 reasons Dortmund will beat PSG
With firepower and experience aplenty, BVB have what it takes to secure a vital win in Paris in Champions League Group F...
Gio Reyna nears first BVB minutes
Following a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury, the American could be in line for some game time against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga this weekend.
Jordan at Gladbach: ideal conditions for USMNT return?
Could a reunion with coach Gerardo Seoane bring out the best of the USA striker once again?