Maximillian James Aarons (born 4 January 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Norwich City. He is primarily a right-back, but can also play as a left-back.
![]() Aarons warming up for Norwich City in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Maximillian James Aarons[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2000-01-04) 4 January 2000 (age 22)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Hammersmith, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Right-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Norwich City | ||
Number | 2 | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2016 | Luton Town | ||
2016–2018 | Norwich City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018– | Norwich City | 176 | (5) |
National team‡ | |||
2018–2019 | England U19 | 7 | (0) |
2019– | England U21 | 20 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:44, 12 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:54, 27 September 2022 (UTC) |
Aarons began his career at Luton Town, and moved to join Norwich City's academy in 2016.[3] He signed a three-year professional contract with the Canaries in June 2018,[3] before making his debut in an EFL Cup game against Stevenage on 14 August.[4] His first senior goal also came in the EFL Cup, as he concluded a 3–1 win over Cardiff City two weeks later.[5] Aarons made his first league appearance on 2 September, starting in the East Anglian derby against Ipswich Town, a 1–1 draw.[6] On 10 October, he extended his contract at the club until June 2023.[7]
In March 2019 he was selected to the 2018–19 Championship Team of the Season,[8] and was also awarded the 2018–19 EFL Young Player of the Season award.[9] He was promoted with Norwich to the Premier League after a 2–1 victory over Blackburn Rovers.
In April 2021 he was nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season.[10]
In January 2022, Aarons made his 150th appearance for Norwich City in a Premier League match against West Ham United. [11]
After breaking into the Norwich City first team at the start of the 2018–19 season, Aarons earned a call-up to the England under-19 team in September 2018.[12]
On 30 August 2019, Aarons was included in the England U21 squad for the first time [13] and made his debut during the 3–2 2021 U21 Euro qualifying win against Turkey on 6 September 2019.[14]
Despite his England caps, in March 2021 it was reported that Aarons would be called up to the Jamaica national team, as part of a plot by the Jamaican Football Federation to purposely target a number of English and English-born players for call ups in order to increase the nation's chances of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.[15][16] JFF president Michael Ricketts claimed that Aarons was going to apply for a Jamaican passport in order to play for the nation.[15] However, Aarons subsequently revealed he had not been contacted by Jamaica, stating: "I am able to play for Jamaica but I never heard anything from them or whatever. I had people messaging me, a few family members from Jamaica, and I had to say that I hadn't heard anything".[17] Aarons also revealed that he had no interest in playing for anyone other than his home nation, commenting: "my full focus is definitely on England".[17]
Aarons is of Jamaican descent.[18] He is the cousin of Huddersfield Town player Rolando Aarons.[19]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Norwich City | 2018–19[20] | Championship | 41 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 43 | 3 | |
2019–20[21] | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
2020–21[22] | Championship | 45 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 47 | 2 | ||
2021–22[23] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
2022–23[24] | Championship | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
Career total | 176 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 187 | 6 |
Norwich City
Individual
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Norwich City F.C. – current squad | |
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