Max Johnston (footballer)

Max Johnston (born 26 December 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz and the Scotland national team.

Max Johnston

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-12-26) 26 December 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, England
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Sturm Graz
Number	2
Youth career
	Motherwell
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Motherwell	19	(3)
2021–2022	→ Queen of the South (loan)	25	(2)
2022	→ Cove Rangers (loan)	11	(0)
2023–	Sturm Graz	41	(1)
2023	Sturm Graz II	7	(0)
International career‡
2019	Scotland U16[2]	1	(1)
2022	Scotland U19[3]	2	(0)
2022–2024	Scotland U21	10	(1)
2025–	Scotland	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:33, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Johnston signed for Motherwell at 12 years old, progressing through the club's academy system,^[4] then joining up with the first-team squad ahead of the 2020–21 season.^[1] Johnston debuted for the Steelmen on 13 February 2021, as a substitute in the Lanarkshire derby versus Hamilton Academical.^[5][6]

On 1 September 2021, Johnston signed for Queen of the South on a season long loan deal, with the former Doonhamers manager being his father Allan.^[7] He was then loaned to Cove Rangers in September 2022.^[8] After making 10 appearances with Cove, Johnston was recalled on 1 January 2023.^[9] He then became a regular in the Motherwell first team, and won the SFWA Young Player of the Year award for 2022–23.^[10]

On 25 July 2023, Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz announced the signing of Johnston on a contract until the summer of 2027.^[11]

International career

Johnston represented Scotland at under-16 level, scoring on his debut versus Australia in 2019. On 17 March 2022, Johnston was called up late to the Scotland under-19 squad.^[12]

He was added to the full Scotland squad for the first time in October 2023, following withdrawals by Aaron Hickey and Andrew Robertson.^[13] He made his senior debut on 20 March 2025 as a late substitute for Billy Gilmour in a UEFA Nations League victory over Greece.^[14]

Personal life

Johnston's father is former Scotland international Allan; his uncle Sammy was also a footballer.^[4]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 August 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Motherwell	2020–21[16]	Scottish Premiership	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		2	0
	2021–22[17]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	2022–23[18]	Scottish Premiership	17	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	–		19	3
	Total		19	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	–		21	3
Queen of the South (loan)	2021–22	Scottish Championship	25	2	2	0	0	0	–		4[c]	1	31	3
Cove Rangers (loan)	2022–23	Scottish Championship	11	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		11	0
Sturm Graz	2023–24	Austrian Bundesliga	20	0	2	0	–		7[d]	0	–		29	0
	2024–25	Austrian Bundesliga	24	1	2	0	–		5[e]	0	–		31	1
	2025–26	Austrian Bundesliga	1	0	1	0	–		0	0	–		2	0
	Total		45	1	5	0	0	0	12	0	–		62	1
Sturm Graz II	2023–24	2. Liga	7	0	–		–		–		–		7	0
Career total			107	6	9	0	0	0	12	0	4	1	132	7

1. Includes Scottish Cup, Austrian Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup
3. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
4. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 6 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Scotland	2025	2	0
Total		2	0

Honours

Sturm Graz

• Austrian Cup: 2023–24
• Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2023–24, 2024-25

Individual

• SFWA Young Player of the Year: 2022–23^[10]