Real Salt Lake Wonderkid Aiden Hezarkhani Draws Interest from Borussia Dortmund and Brighton

Having stormed into the MLS 2026 season, Real Salt Lake’s 2007-born young star Aiden Hezarkhani has locked Europe’s giant scouting networks onto the American continent, not just with his potential, but with tangible performance at senior level. 

Having seized a starting spot in the opening weeks of the season to become an indispensable member of the Starting XI, the young winger has already earned the title of "the next big MLS export" through his direct goal contributions.

5 Weeks, 2 Goals in MLS

Hezarkhani’s performance, not only in academy tournaments but also in the toughest MLS away days and home fixtures, has filled the notebooks of scouts. 

Hezarkhani started in the First XI in all of the first 5 weeks of the season (Vancouver, Seattle, Atlanta, Austin, and San Diego matches). His performances specifically in the Seattle and Atlanta fixtures were reflected in scouting reports with notes of "clinical finishing under pressure."

It has been reported that scouts from Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, Villarreal, and Brighton & Hove Albion conducted live tracking from the stands. Leaked information suggests that Dortmund and Brighton scouts found the player’s adaptation time to first team soccer tempo to be "extraordinary."

Technical Observations

The following technical details stand out in the observers' notebooks for Hezarkhani. 

The player's greatest weapons, a low centre of gravity and explosive first-step pace, have transitioned seamlessly from MLS Next Pro to the senior level. 

His goals in the Seattle and Atlanta matches proved his ability to cut inside from the flank to beat his marker and his composed finishing skills.

The young player is not just a classic "touchline winger"; he can also drift into the "half-space" zones to display playmaking qualities. This attribute makes him particularly attractive for modern systems that incorporate attacking full-backs.

Club Stance and Bid Planning

The club hierarchy positions Hezarkhani as the academy’s "showcase project" and a key Senior Team starter. 

The club aims to open negotiations at a high valuation, using the player’s Senior Team statistics as leverage.

While Borussia Dortmund and Brighton have placed the player on their "long-term target" watchlists, PSV is planning to gather information regarding the European adaptation process through preliminary talks with the player’s family. 

It is also claimed that Villarreal is preparing a "test bid" after monitoring his senior performances.

Analytical Verdict: Potential Scenarios

Following the examples of Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, Germany remains the most natural destination for American starters. Dortmund’s player development system is the most realistic growth scenario for Hezarkhani.

Brighton’s global scouting network specialises in discovering "proven" talents of this nature and preparing them for the Premier League. The player’s pace and goal statistics align perfectly with Brighton’s system.