AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has thanked Max Aarons for being a top professional, after it was confirmed yesterday that the full back has completed a loan move to La Liga side Valencia.
Aarons will remain at the Spanish side until the loan deal expires at the end of this season, and there is an optional £7.5 million buy clause included in the deal, which could see the full back depart permanently in the summer.
Iraola was complimentary of the defender’s attitude, after he played 45 minutes for the Cherries at the weekend ahead of the move, he said: “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.”
Aarons moved to Bournemouth from Norwich City in the summer of 2023, but his first season on the south coast was plagued by injuries, and he rarely featured after Andoni Iraola replaced Gary O’Neil in the dugout.
The full back has once again struggled for game time this season, starting only once in the Premier League, and falling behind Julian Araujo, Adam Smith, and James Hill in the pecking order.
“He probably wasn’t playing the minutes that he wanted here,” said Iraola.
“Valencia is a big club and the opportunity for him is amazing, I hope he does very well there because I think he deserves it.”
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