By Middlesbrough FC

All you need to know on Boro’s Deadline Day arrival…

Aaron hails from Great Barr in the suburbs of Birmingham, and joined the Aston Villa academy as an Under-9. 

He comes from a footballing family. Older brother Jacob is already a regular for the Villa first team, while younger brother Cole is in the club’s youth ranks. Dad Mark was a boxer. 

In 2019, Aaron was named one of the 20 most promising Premier League talents by The Guardian. 

Aaron was part of a talented Villa crop that lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2021, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final. 

In March 2021, Aaron won the PL2 Player of the Month having scored five goals and registering two assists in just three matches. He was rewarded with a professional contract at Villa shortly after. 

His impressive overall U21 record for Villa stands at 15 goals and eight assists in 30 matches. One of those goals was in a 2-1 win against Boro’s second string - the other goalscorer for the Villans was Cameron Archer, and Boro legend George Boating was in the dugout. 

Cameron isn’t the only familiar face at Rockliffe - Aaron Danks was among the coaching staff at Villa Park. 

Having featured for Villa’s senior side in pre-season in July, Aaron made his first team bow in a 6-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow.

In January 2021, he joined League One Cheltenham Town, where he made 14 appearances and scored once, his first professional goal, at home to Bolton Wanderers. 

At the start of the current season, Aaron joined Norwich City under then-boss Dean Smith, who the youngster had played for at Villa Park. 

He scored three goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances for the Canaries, his goals including a brace in a 3-1 win over Stoke City. 

His final game for City was Boro’s victory at Carrow Road back in December, after which a knee injury sustained during the World Cup break enforced an early return to his parent club.

Aaron has played for England at every level from Under-16 to Under-20, including several appearances as captain, and has been called up to the Young Lions’ Under-21 side. 

He featured heavily in the 2022 European U19s Championships as England claimed victory scoring the last of the Young Lions’ goals in a 3-1 win against Israel in the final.