Max Johnston

Max Johnston was named the SFWA Young Player of the Year for 2022–23 while at Motherwell, the club he joined as an academy player at 12. He made his first-team debut in 2021 and was sent on loan to Queen of the South and then Cove Rangers.

In 2023 he moved to Austria, joining SK Sturm Graz on a free transfer. There he won the Austrian Bundesliga in 2023–24 and again in 2024–25, and the Austrian Cup in 2023–24.

Johnston was born in Middlesbrough and plays for Scotland. His father, Allan Johnston, is a former Scotland international, and his uncle is Sammy Johnston. His own international record began with the youth sides. He scored on his Scotland U16 debut against Australia in 2019, and went on to win two caps at U19 and ten at U21, scoring once at that level. His senior debut came on 20 March 2025, when he came off the bench in a UEFA Nations League win over Greece. He had four senior caps as of September 2025.

Later in 2025 Sturm Graz sold him to Derby County. The reported fee was a base £2.2 million, with up to £1.3 million more in add-ons. His time in England has been interrupted by injury. In October 2025 he hurt a hamstring against Queens Park Rangers, and a calf problem picked up in training then extended his absence.