Maximillian Aarons (2025 to 2026)

London-born Max joined Rangers on a season long loan deal on June 25th, 2025.

The right-back, an international with England’s youth and under-21 teams, began his professional career with Norwich City where he joined from Luton Town’s Academy.

Making 41 league appearances in his debut season as the Canaries won the 2018/19 Championship, Max established himself as a first team regular over the next four season as they bounced back and forward between the top two tiers of English football.

Having failed to secure a return to the Premier League at the end of season 2022/23, Aarons agreed to join AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £7m. The Cherries ended their 2023/24 campaign in 12th position, Aarons making 20 appearances.

Featuring in only 3 league matches during the first half of season 2024/25, Aarons spent the second half of the season on loan at Valencia CF. Whilst the La Liga side retained an option to purchase the player, they chose not to make the move permanent with Aarons having made only a handful of appearances, mainly coming off the bench. Max’s first two appearances for the club cwere against Barcelona, a side linked with the player back in 2020.

Head Coach Russell Martin’s playing career with Norwich City was ending just as Aaron’s forced his way into the first team, but the youngster had seemingly made a positive impression. The newly appointed Gers boss describing Max as “a wonderfully talented player” and a “fantastic addition to the squad”. With captain James Tavernier now coming towards the end of his Gers career, the signing of Aaron’s certainly seemed a logical one.

Max’s Rangers debut came on 22nd July 2025 as Rangers defeated Panathinaikos 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.

Rangers entered the season with obvious weakness on the left side of their defence. It was no secret that the Club were seeking to cut their losses on the injury plagued Ridvan Yilmaz and, in the early weeks of the season, it became apparent that the defensively suspect Jefte was also likely to be moved on. Having surprisingly advised B-Team captain Robbie Fraser that he was out of the plans, options appeared somewhat limited.

Martin’s initial solution was to play Aaron’s out of position, and it was a situation from which the player never seemed to recover. Looking ill at ease on having to navigate on his much weaker left side, Max offered little in terms of an offensive contribution whilst the entire team looked lost as the Gers head coach failed to implement his ideas.

Friction between Martin and Tavernier (amongst others) did allow Aarons the opportunity to slot into his favoured position but, by then, it appeared that his confidence was already suffering.

If Martin perceived the arrival of left full-back Jayden Meghoma to be the missing piece of the jigsaw, there was a reality check as Rangers lost three goals in the opening 20 minutes against Club Brugge. Whilst young Meghoma had performed admirably in the most toxic of environments, it was a shambolic team display. Worse was to follow in the return leg in Belgium when Max was shown a straight red card in only the eighth minute with the side in complete disarray. Already trailing by a goal on the night, the ten men of Rangers would concede a further five on, crashing out 9-1 on aggregate. In truth, had it not been for the home side easing up, double figures may well have been the outcome. It was a total humiliation and surely sealed the fate of Martin despite surprisingly remaining in the job for a further 39 days. Many friends of Rangers felt Martin should have been sacked before the plane touched down in Glasgow.

Although relegated to the bench following on from his part in the Belgian debacle, Max immediately made his first telling contribution when his strike at Livingston secured, at the sixth attempt, a first league win of the season. Appearing as a late substitute, Aarons swept home a right foot shot at the back post as Rangers took advantage of a 94th minute corner. Following initial relief and celebration within the stands, despite the injury time winner the travelling support instantaneously reverted to demand the removal of Martin. It was a truly surreal moment.

The Gers fans would eventually get their wish and Max soon made his first appearance under new Head Coach Danny Rohl (a used substitute during a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox).

With Rohl initially restoring faith in James Tavernier, and Dujon Sterling returning to the side at the end of 2025 following his latest long-term injury, Aarons would find himself relegated the bench for the majority of Rohl’s brief time in charge.

Of the 20 matches Aaron’s started for Rangers, half of them came in European competition including his final start in the 3-1 defeat against FC Porto in Portugal.

In all, Max made 35 appearances during his underwhelming sole season in Glasgow.

by Rick Plews