Max Aarons endured a tough time on loan at Valencia last season - but had one stand-out moment
12:00, 05 Jul 2025
Max Aarons (left) squares off against Vinicius Junior(Image: M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Max Aarons found himself hurled in at the Bernabeu deep end last season.
Now the new Rangers loan recruit admits it’s sink or swim time as he looks to get his career back on track at Ibrox.
The 25-year-old was once a Premier League regular after clocking up almost a century of top-flight appearances with Norwich and current parent club Bournemouth.
But last season the right-back found himself having to move to Valencia on loan as his opportunities dwindled at Deans Gate.
His La Liga stint proved to be just as frustrating, however, as he was limited to just five run-outs for the Mestalla men.
Joining the Blanquinegros in January, Aarons was afforded a couple of early opportunities in back-to-back clashes with Barcelona.
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But after seeing his new side ship TWELVE goals over two games to the ruthless Catalan Kings, he was left kicking his heels on the sidelines for another two months.
He was finally thrust back into action in early April, when out of the blue he was handed one of the toughest assignments in world football after being tasked with halting Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior in the Spanish capital.
This time, though, Aarons stood up to the test as he helped Valencia claim a shock 2-1 win over the Galacticos.
It was a welcome pick-me-up after a frustrating spell - and an experience Aarons believes can help as he bids to help Rangers survive in the shark-infested waters that lie between Russell Martin’s men and the Champions League.
“That was amazing,” he said. “I think in the seasons before I'd played near enough 40 games each season.
“That was probably the experience that got me through at that point because I hadn't played for months before being thrown in what would probably be one of the toughest games in Europe.
“I felt great until the 75th minute when the legs went! But, yes, it was a really good game and a successful night.
“So, yeah, that was amazing. Those games and those little bits of experience that you pick up along the way stand you in good stead to come to a club like this with this expectation.
“For sure, going abroad helped me massively. I obviously went there to play, but everything else, from a life point of view and experience, on and off the pitch, it taught me a lot.
“Valencia is a big club there as well with a lot of expectation. When I went there, we were down at the bottom but it was still a great experience.”
But Aarons admits he had to think even more carefully about this latest loan switch to Glasgow having seen his game-time dry up last term.
Max Aarons
He said: “Yeah for sure. Listen I wasn’t getting the games at Bournemouth last season that I’d have been happy with so I obviously went on loan to Valencia, where it was a similar situation.
“So I’m coming in here off the back of not playing as many games as I wanted to last season. But for most of my career, I’ve played minimum 40-odd games a season.
“So I feel that with the build-up in the pre-season games and into the season at full fitness I can make a good start. I’m coming in fresh from last season as well, so I’m ready to contribute hopefully in a massive way to a successful season.
“It's a really important season for me. I didn’t play a lot of games last season but I’ve drawn a line under that.
“I'm coming in here and hopefully Rangers fans will definitely see the best version of me - the me of two years ago, when I felt I was at my best.
“Hopefully coming in with a freshness as well, I think will be really good. This is a huge, huge club. So, I'm honestly delighted to be here.”
Aarons certainly knows what winning involves having claimed European Under-21 gold with England in 2023.
And he’s looking to add Scottish silverware to a medal collection that also boasts an English Championship triumph.
“I’ve had some success with the England Under-21 team and at Norwich, winning the Championship, so I know what that takes,” he said.
“I believe my qualities here will fit very well. Like I said, I know the size of the challenge here at Rangers but I also believe I’m coming to a point in my career where I’ve got some good experience behind me.
“You know, I’ve played almost 100 Premier League games and I feel like I can use that. They say there is a pressure to play here but I believe I’ll be fine to deal with that and the football will shine through.
Rangers have signed Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth
Rangers have signed Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth
“The chance to play in the Champions League was huge too. Obviously, having watched some of the European nights that this club has had in recent years as well was huge in that.
“It starts very soon. Now that we're over a week into pre-season, I can see that we're all fully tuned in on knowing the prospect ahead and what can be achieved if we have a successful run.
“So, I'm really looking forward to it and for sure that was a big factor in coming to this club.”
Aarons and his new team-mates don’t have long to get to grips with Martin’s new possession-heavy tactics - but he’s excited about what the new gaffer has planned.
He said: “Knowing his style and knowing what he wants, it's always been something that as a player you want — to play in a system that really suits your game.
“Having watched and played against his teams, I've always had that in the back of my mind that I'd love to play in that system.
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“Having now come in here, I can also see what you don't see from the outside — the demands that he has of wanting to succeed and wanting to win.
“I always knew about his teams on the ball and knowing what he wants off the ball as well, you, to be relentless. I think it's very exciting.”