Aaron Essel

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Aaron Essel

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|7|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

| height = 1.79 m{{Soccerway|aaron-essel/841302}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = North Texas SC

| clubnumber = 6

| youthyears1 =

| years1 = 2021–2024

| clubs1 = Bechem United

| caps1 = 69

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2024–

| clubs2 = St Johnstone

| caps2 = 15

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2025-

| clubs3 = → North Texas SC (loan)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2022

| nationalteam1 = Ghana U20

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2023–

| nationalteam2 = Ghana U23

| nationalcaps2 = 3

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 22 December 2024

| ntupdate = 30 June 2023

}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

Aaron Essel (born 30 July 2005) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as defender for MLS Next Pro side North Texas SC, on loan from Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone. {{Cite web|title=Aaron Essel - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/aaron-essel/465202/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=globalsportsarchive.com}}

Early life

Essel attended St. John's School, Sekondi where he captained and played for the school's football team leading them to the final of the Western Regional Inter-schools and Colleges Super Zonals Boys Soccer Competition but lost the ultimate to Takoradi Technical Institute via a 6–5 scoreline on penalty shootouts after a goalless draw at the end of extra time.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-31|title=Aaron Essel 'dreams' of playing for Real Madrid|url=https://www.kyfilla.com/03/aaron-essel-dreams-of-playing-for-real-madrid/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=kyfilla.com|language=en-US}}

Career

In March 2021, Essel joined Bechem United during the second round transfer period for the 2020–21 season. On 4 April 2021, he made his debut after playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 victory over Liberty Professionals.{{Cite web|title=Match Report of Bechem United FC vs Liberty Professionals FC - 2021-04-04 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2021-04-04/bechem-united-fc-vs-liberty-professionals-fc/2201896/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=globalsportsarchive.com}}{{Cite web|last=Osman|first=Abdul Wadudu|date=2021-04-04|title=Match Report : Bechem United 2-0 Liberty Professionals - Hunters beat Liberty to return to winning ways|url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/04/04/match-report-bechem-united-2-0-liberty-professionals-hunters-beat-liberty-to-return-to-winning-ways/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614131859/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/04/04/match-report-bechem-united-2-0-liberty-professionals-hunters-beat-liberty-to-return-to-winning-ways/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=14 June 2021|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Football Made In Ghana|language=en-US}} He played the full 90 minutes in their comfortable 4–0 home victory over rivals Aduana Stars on 18 April 2021.{{Cite web|last=Osman|first=Abdul Wadudu|date=2021-04-18|title=Match Report :Bechem United 4-0 Aduana Stars - Hafiz Konkoni scores twice as Hunters thump Aduana Stars|url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/04/18/match-report-bechem-united-4-0-aduana-stars-hafiz-konkoni-scores-twice-as-hunters-thump-aduana-stars/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205224/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/04/18/match-report-bechem-united-4-0-aduana-stars-hafiz-konkoni-scores-twice-as-hunters-thump-aduana-stars/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 June 2021|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Football Made In Ghana|language=en-US}}