Aaron John Morris (born 30 December 1989) is a Welsh professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for League One club Gillingham. He can also play as a defender and has represented the Wales national under-21 team.
Morris was born in Rumney, Cardiff.
Joining Cardiff City as a youth player, he made his first-team debut in a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Welshpool Town on 23 January 2007 in the FAW Premier Cup and went on to play in the semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Newport County three weeks later. The FAW Premier Cup matches would be the only matches he played for the first team during the 2007âÂÂ08 season.
The start of the 2008âÂÂ09 season saw Morris handed a full first-team squad number for the first time. In August 2008 Morris was set to join Bournemouth on loan, along with fellow Cardiff player Jonathan Brown. The move fell through later after both clubs overlooked the fact that Morris was still only an academy scholar at Cardiff and was ineligible to be loaned out. On 26 August 2008, Morris came on as a substitute during Cardiff's 2âÂÂ1 League Cup victory over Milton Keynes Dons after Darcy Blake suffered a hamstring injury.
In December 2009, Morris joined Conference South leaders Newport County initially on a one-month loan arrangement, making his debut in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Dorchester Town on 28 December. His loan period at Newport concluded 29 February 2010. After returning to Cardiff, Morris made his league debut for the club in the final league game of the 2009âÂÂ10 season as a substitute in place of Solomon Taiwo during a 2âÂÂ0 defeat to Derby County. At the end of the 2009âÂÂ10 season Morris was released by Cardiff, having played 4 games for the club.
Following his release, Morris spent time on trial with Brighton & Hove Albion and Exeter City before joining League Two side Aldershot Town on 30 July. In his first start, Morris was named sponsors Man of the Match following a 0âÂÂ0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 18 September 2010. In his first season at Aldershot, Morris made 25 appearances in all competitions. The following season, he was a regular face in the first team squad, playing 45 games in all competitions and scoring his first career goal in a 1âÂÂ0 victory at Macclesfield Town on 18 February 2012. He scored his second career goal less than a month later on 13 March 2012, scoring after 4 minutes to give Aldershot a 1âÂÂ0 lead at Crawley Town in a game that ended 2âÂÂ2. Morris's third season at Aldershot was also his final season with the club, he was everpresent in the side, making 44 appearances, before suffering cruciate ligament damage in the 18th minute of a 3âÂÂ2 victory over Oxford United that ended his season. He was released at the end of the season as his contract with Aldershot expired and the club was relegated from The Football League.
Morris once again linked up with Neal Ardley, who brought him through the ranks at Cardiff City, by signing for AFC Wimbledon on 10 January 2014. On the transfer, Ardley stated "I would have signed Aaron in the summer if he was not injured, Aaron can play in a number of positions, but he can be a very good centre-back in my eyes". Morris later tweeted "Been a tough road back but delighted to be back on track and to have signed at AFC Wimbledon, good things to come I'm sure".
Following the 2013âÂÂ14 season, he signed for Gillingham on a two-year deal. Morris was rewarded with another two-year contract at the conclusion of the 2015âÂÂ16 season. He was released in summer 2018.
In June 2008, Morris was named as a stand-by player for the U19 squad for the Milk Cup tournament held in Northern Ireland. He received his first call-up to the Wales U21 side in February 2009, but the scheduled match against Northern Ireland U21s was called off due to adverse weather. Morris received his second call-up a month later for the qualifying matches against Luxembourg, being handed his first cap in the second meeting of the two sides when he played a full 90 minutes in a 5âÂÂ1 win.