The right back joined ex-Canaries duo Russell Martin and Matt Gill at Ibrox as one of their first summer signings, having enjoyed a spell at Spanish side Valencia that involved him featuring against Barcelona, who tried to sign him from City back in 2020.
Aarons eventually departed City to join Bournemouth in 2023, but struggled for game time in the Premier League.
His move to Rangers was sparked by a desire to get back playing, and his pre-existing relationship with Martin and assistant Matt Gill from their collective spell at Carrow Road helped influence his decision to head to Scotland.
“Despite being English and having played most of my career down south, you know about Rangers and the size of this football club,” Aarons said.
“When [the opportunity] was combined with this manager who I know very well, even if I haven’t worked under him before, everything I’ve heard about him and his staff meant it just matched up perfectly.
“Obviously I played with the manager. It crossed over for a little bit, then he came here himself on loan as a player. That was when I first broke through at Norwich. We had a really good relationship back then, and the same with Matt Gill, the assistant here who was my Under-18s and Under-23s coach [at Norwich].
“They [tried to sign me] for Southampton as well, so everything has matched up perfectly here. Signing here was something I really wanted to do, so I’m grateful to Bournemouth for allowing that to happen. I feel like I’m in a really good position now, and I’m looking forward to the season. I think we can have a real successful season. That’s why I came here.”
Aarons aligns with Martin’s possession-heavy style of play and is enthused about the prospect of developing under him after facing off against his Swansea side in the Championship whilst at Norwich.
“I think, knowing [Martin’s] 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.
Max Aarons worked with new Rangers assistant Matt Gill (right) during his spell at Norwich. (Image: Newsquest) “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,” he told the Rangers Review.
“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.”