Right-back Aaron McGowan has signed a short-term contract with Tranmere Rovers, 5 months after turning down a new deal at Northampton Town.
The 29-year-old departs Sixfields after 4 years and 131 appearances, having scored 3 goals and helped the Cobblers to promotion in 2023. He left at the end of last season, citing family reasons, and remained unattached beyond the summer window before agreeing terms with Tranmere until January.
Tranmere Confirm Switch
Confirming the move, Rovers said the signing responds to an injury situation in defence and highlighted McGowan’s experience, leadership and recent captaincy duties at Northampton. He links up at Prenton Park with fellow former Cobbler Patrick Brough.
“The club is pleased to be able to bring in a player of his calibre at this stage in response to the injury situation in terms of defenders. McGowan achieved promotion to the English Football third tier with Northampton Town in 2023, and he went on to captain the club for the second half of last season.
“The defender, who hails from Liverpool, has also played for Morecambe, Hamilton Academical and Kilmarnock.”
McGowan’s Northampton farewell in May referenced the personal factors behind his decision and his connection with the club and supporters after a sustained spell as a regular.
“Sometimes you have to make decisions in life what’s best for you and your family and this decision is 1 of them. Saying goodbye to a club you love and people you have so much respect for is never easy, representing this football club and wearing the armband the numerous times I did was nothing short of an honour.”
Aaron McGowan’s senior career
McGowan’s senior career began at Morecambe, where he became the club’s youngest debutant in 2012–13 and later totalled 119 appearances, winning 2017–18 player-of-the-year awards. He moved to Hamilton Academical in 2018, making 67 appearances, serving as vice-captain, and captaining Accies to a notable 1–0 win at Rangers in March 2020 before departing in 2020.
McGowan signed for Kilmarnock for the 2020–21 season, then joined Northampton Town in July 2021. Across four seasons at Sixfields he made 131 league appearances, helped secure 2022–23 promotion from League Two, and wore the armband frequently in 2024–25, before rejecting a new 2-year deal in May 2025.
Tranmere are 18th in League Two and have indicated McGowan could make his debut this weekend against Barnet, subject to registration and selection. The deal runs to January, giving Rovers immediate cover and the option to reassess in the winter window.
Writer’s View
This is a pragmatic, needs-led pickup for Tranmere: an experienced, defensively reliable right-back with recent captaincy experience and promotion pedigree, arriving on a short-term agreement that mitigates risk amid injuries.
For McGowan, the move restores momentum after a family-driven exit from Northampton and a quiet summer. The January breakpoint suits both parties — offering Rovers an instant boost and the player a platform to play, prove fitness and form, and evaluate longer-term options once the market reopens.
