{{Short description|Ghanaian footballer (born 2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Aaron Essel | image = Aaron Essel Sacramento Republic vs Oakland Roots 16 May 2026 02.jpg | caption = Essel in 2026 | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|7|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana | height = 1.79 m<ref>{{Soccerway|aaron-essel/841302}}</ref> | position = Defender | currentclub = Sacramento Republic<br/>(on loan from St Johnstone) | clubnumber = 15 | 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 = 16 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2026– | clubs4 = → Sacramento Republic (loan) | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2022– | nationalteam1 = Ghana U20 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2023 | nationalteam2 = Ghana U23 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2025– | nationalteam3 = Ghana | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 10 March 2026 | ntupdate = 30 June 2023 }}
'''Aaron Essel''' (born 30 July 2005) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as defender for USL Championship side Sacramento Republic, on loan from Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone, and is also a part of the Ghana national team.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>
== 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 tournament to Takoradi Technical Institute via a 6–5 scoreline on penalty shootouts after a goalless draw at the end of extra time.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== Career == In March 2021, Essel joined Bechem United during the second round transfer period for the 2020–21 season.<ref name=":0" /> On 4 April 2021, he made his debut after playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 victory over Liberty Professionals.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> He played the full 90 minutes in their comfortable 4–0 home victory over rivals Aduana Stars on 18 April 2021.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==International career== In May 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SC |first=North Texas |title=Aaron Essel Receives Ghana National Team Call-Up |url=https://www.fcdallas.com/northtexassc/news/aaron-essel-receives-ghana-national-team-call-up |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=North Texas SC |language=en}}</ref> Essel was called up to the Ghana national team for the 2025 Unity Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/otto-addo-names-squad-for-unity-cup-2025|title=Otto Addo names squad for Unity Cup 2025|first=Ghana Football|last=Association|website=www.ghanafa.org}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{GSA player|aaron-essel/465202}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essel, Aaron}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Sekondi-Takoradi Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Ghana men's international footballers Category:Ghana men's under-20 international footballers Category:Ghana men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Bechem United F.C. players Category:St Johnstone F.C. players Category:North Texas SC players Category:Sacramento Republic FC players Category:Ghana Premier League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:USL Championship players Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Footballers at the 2023 African Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 African Games