Aaron Pierre

Aaron Jordan Pierre (born 17 February 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for League Two club Sutton United and the Grenada national team. He began his career in the academy at Premier League club Fulham, before joining League One club Brentford in 2011. He was Shrewsbury Town's Player of the Year in 2019–20. Pierre was born in Southall, Greater London. He started his career in the youth system at Fulham, but was released in 2011. Pierre (along with former Fulham youth teammates Jonathan Cosgrove, Albert Owusu-Ansah and Michael Kamau) joined League One side Brentford on trial in April 2011 and was the only one of the four to earn a contract. Pierre was made part of the Development Squad for its inaugural season in 2011–12. He made his professional debut for the Bees on 4 December 2012, in a 2–1 defeat to Southend United in the Football League Trophy, coming on as a substitute for Jake Bidwell. Pierre was an unused substitute on four further occasions during the 2012–13 season. Towards the end of the campaign, Pierre spent a period training with Brentford's Icelandic partner club UMF Selfoss. Pierre was the leading appearance-maker for the Development Squad in the 2012–13 season, making 19 starts and scoring two goals, in addition to his solitary first team appearance. On 20 June 2013, he signed a new one-year contract which will tie him to the club until the summer of 2014. He made his first appearance of the 2013–14 season on 27 August 2013, coming on at half time for Scott Barron in a 5–0 League Cup defeat away at Derby County. His second appearance came in a 5–3 Football League Trophy first round win over AFC Wimbledon the following week, again replacing Scott Barron at half time. Pierre was made available for loan in October 2013 and attracted interest from Conference Premier clubs Aldershot Town and Cambridge United. Pierre was again made available for loan in February 2014, but expressed a desire to open talks over a new contract the following month. Though he spent portions of the 2013–14 season out on loan, Pierre finished the campaign with two first team appearances and 12 Development Squad appearances. In early May, it was reported that Pierre had been offered a new contract, after impressing in his loan spells away from Griffin Park during the 2013–14 season. On 16 May, it was reported that Pierre turned down the contract offer and left the club. He made three first team appearances during his three years with the Bees.