Wed 27 Aug - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 2mins
Max Johnston has landed to become Derby County’s 12th summer signing.
The Scotland international returns to British football after two successful, trophy-laden years with Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz.
This is his journey so far…
Johnston was born in Middlesbrough in 2003, when his father Allan – a former 18-cap Scotland international midfielder – was representing the Teesside club in the Premier League.
He began his football career with Motherwell, where he progressed through the academy ranks to make his senior debut in the Scottish Premiership in February 2021.
Two loans to the Scottish Championship followed as Johnston looked to gain further first team experience, first with Queen of the South, who he represented on 31 occasions in all competitions during the 2021/22 season.
He played 11 times for Cove Rangers during the first half of the next campaign before being recalled in January 2023, and he grabbed his opportunity to impress at Fir Park with both hands.
The full-back scored three times in 19 appearances in the second part of 2022/23 and his displays saw him named as the Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year.
Johnston had attracted the attention of Sturm Graz, who recruited him ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and the trophies soon followed.
He made 29 appearances in all competitions during his first season as Sturm Graz won their first Austrian Bundesliga title since 2010/11, following a decade of Red Bull Salzburg dominance.
This earned a place in the UEFA Champions League proper for the first time since 2000/01, while they also won their seventh Austrian Cup.
The Scottish defender continued to be a regular as they won back-to-back titles a year later, while he also earned senior international recognition in March 2025.
He came off the bench to make his Scotland debut against Greece in the UEFA Nations League, while he has also been named in Steve Clarke’s latest squad for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.
