The full back was previously touted for a huge transfer to one of the world's biggest clubs back in 2022
Anthony Evans
18:37, 16 Jun 2025
Max Aarons (left) in action against Vinicius Junior(Image: M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The summer transfer rumour mill is in full swing, and the latest player who is said to be on Rangers radar is Bournemouth full back Max Aarons.
New Gers boss Russell Martin is keen to bolster his options across the board, with sporting director Kevin Thelwell already working hard to nail several key targets.
Record Sport told you earlier this month that Leicester City defender Conor Coady and Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Dor Turgeman are both in talks over a move to Ibrox, with out of contract Peterborough star Kwame Poku also believed to be on Gers radar.
Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises' £20million transfer pledge after completing their takeover of Rangers should give boss Martin some money to play with, and a potential loan deal for Cherries right back Aarons has been mooted by sources in Italy.
Record Sport takes a look at the reported target - who is said to be close to a deal that will take him north of the border - in detail.
Who is Max Aarons?
Aaron was born in Hammersmith, London on January 4, 2000. After rising through the youth ranks at Luton Town, Aarons joined Norwich City in 2016. He made his professional debut with the Canaries in August 2018 and went on to make 213 appearances in total (including 36 in the Premier League), scoring six times, picking up two EFL Championship winners' medals.
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He then left Norwich to join Bournemouth in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £7m. Aarons has appeared 27 times for the Cherries and spent the second half of last season on loan at Valencia, making just three outings in all competitions, one of which came in a famous 2-1 away victory against the mighty Real Madrid.
The full back was also a regular for England at youth level earlier in his career. Aarons won 27 caps for his country at U21 level and was a part of the side that lifted the European Championships in 2023.
How much would be cost?
Rangers' reported move for Aarons is a loan deal and not a permanent transfer.
However, it remains to be seen whether an upfront fee will be required to complete the deal. Any potential loan move could also include an option to buy the player for a fixed price outright further down the line.
Aarons earns a reported salary of £1.8m a year at Bournemouth, which works out at around £34,600 a week.
What has Aarons said?
Aarons was previously linked with mega moves to the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich during his time at Norwich, and was reportedly lined up for a £20m bid by the former in 2022.
And speaking in an interview back in April, he revealed how much he was enjoying life in Spain with Valencia despite his limited minutes.
He told BBC Sport: "From a young age it was always a dream of mine to play in Spain.
"In 2020 it nearly happened with Barcelona. Ever since then, I've said it doesn't matter which team, as long as it's in La Liga I would love to be there and the opportunity happened in January.
Max Aaarons(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
"You do have to be a certain kind of character to do that, especially as an English player. It doesn't happen a lot and I can understand for some players why it wouldn't be the right thing.
"But, for some, especially myself, it's something you always want to do and if you're to do it you have to immerse yourself in the culture and be all in. You can't expect to come in and it be England - you have to jump in and be ready.
"Learning the language, trying the food - everything. It's an experience and I have to say I'm loving it."
What has been said about him?
Prior to loaning Aarons out to Valencia last January, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola had plenty of positive things to say about the full back. He stated: "I have to thank him for being a top professional.
"We asked him for a last effort, and even knowing it (the loan deal) was almost a done agreement, he played very well. His behaviour has always been very good."
Former Norwich manager Daniel Farke was the man who brought Aarons to Carrow Road and lavished praise on the former England U21 star back in 2020. He said: "Max is outstanding in many topics. I can’t praise him enough for what he has done since his first appearance.
"When you have the clubs interested in him who were interested it is easy to lose the ground under the feet. Maybe you think you know everything about football.
"He is always looking to work harder. Never ill, never injured. If the best clubs in the world are interested then maybe there is not that much more space to improve.
Max Aarons in action for Norwich in 2021(Image: Getty Images)
"But he knows he can work a bit more on his assists and end product, like in the last game. I think he can be more of an offensive threat for us. You watch some of our games now and the opponents go man-for-man on him. That is crazy for a player who is a full-back but it says a lot about his reputation.
"In my eyes he is not the young Max Aarons, he is just a special player and he has an unbelievable future. I know he has been labelled as one of the best young players in this league. Well I told him we can reject this label now because he is no longer one of the best young players, he is one of the best players.
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"When you are close to 100 appearances, you are already an experienced lad. He is so young and he has to improve, and he will, but what he has done in the past two years is amazing. I cannot praise him enough."
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