Aaron Long suffered an Achilles injury to his right foot, sources tell FanSided’s ‘MLS Multiplex.’ The New York Red Bulls star centerback and United States international is scheduled to have surgery on Monday night.
The sources say that Long’s injury is a ruptured Achilles tendon. He suffered the injury on Saturday night in the Red Bulls 1-0 loss at the Philadelphia Union.
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His return from the injury likely sees him miss the remainder of the MLS season and quite possibly World Cup qualifiers this fall for the United States national team.
The loss of Long is a blow to the Red Bulls as the player is easily one of the best central defenders in all of MLS. Long’s ability to cover ground and win aerial duels is a perfect fit for the team’s system. He also is comfortable with the ball at his feet and is a very capable passer.
Long is a big piece for the United States national team as well, having earned 21 caps since his first call-up in 2018. He is slotted in as a starting centerback alongside Bundesliga standout John Anthony Brooks with the national team.
He first came to New York in 2016 and is a major coup for the Red Bulls developmental system. Cut by both the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers, Long originally signed with the Red Bulls II, the club’s feeder team in the USL.
Aaron Long’s injury is a devastating blow to the New York Red Bulls and the United States national team.
He transitioned from central midfield to centerback in 2016 while with the USL squad and by the next season, was starting for the Red Bulls in the CONCACAF Champions League against the Vancouver Whitecaps. By the 2017 season, he was emerging as one of the top defenders in all of MLS and was generating legitimate interest from clubs in the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and Ligue 1 in France.
He was an MLS All-Star and Best XI defender in 2018, then being named to the CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI in 2019.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer