Max Johnston

Johnston's current-season form is level with last season (Season 8→8), while his Rating held around 60. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 8).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Derby · 16th	2	0	0	6.8	60	8
2025/26	Derby · 8th	15	0	1	6.64	60	8
2025/26	Sturm Graz · 1st	3	1	0	7.53	40	4
2024/25	Sturm Graz	25	1	5	6.82	—	—
2023/24	Sturm Graz	23	0	1	6.64	—	—
2022/23	Cove RangersLoan	11	0	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 2 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

Scotland · international

Side	Apps	G
Scotland	4	0
Scotland U21	6	0
Scotland U19	2	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

M. Johnston is a 22-year-old central defender at Derby, rated 60.9 overall by Field Insider's model. An emerging talent, he has been a fringe squad member this season (23.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.04 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Johnston.

On the season, Johnston graded 9 for current form (age-blind), on 3 clean sheets and 2.041 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 8 → 8). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 61. At 22 Johnston is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 26.7 reflects that trajectory.

60.9

Ratingi

a strong, regular top-tier starter

8.6

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

23.4%

Minutes

limited game time

2.04

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Derby finished 8th of 24 · an upper-table side

Apps

2.04

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 15 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (8th of 24) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Ceiling. High potential at just 22 — room to grow into a bigger role.

Watch points

Game time. Only 23.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.

Outlook

Rated 60.9 overall — a strong, regular top-tier starter. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 1.9×) with the best seasons likely ahead. With this floor already at 22, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %23.4%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900.093

Goal contribution / 900.093

Defensive actions / 902.041

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.093

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~28), then tapers with age. At 22, Johnston sits on 26.7, still climbing toward its peak. The blue line is Johnston's projected Rating — 60.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles18

Interceptions3

Blocks1

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

DerbyAug 2025 – now

Sturm GrazJul 2023 – Aug 2025Free

Motherwell(back from loan)Dec 2022 – Jul 2023

CCove Rangers(on loan)Sept 2022 – Dec 2022

Motherwell(back from loan)May 2022 – Sept 2022

QQueen of the South(on loan)Sept 2021 – May 2022

Motherwelluntil Sept 2021

About M. Johnston

Max Johnston is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Derby, born on December 26, 2003 in Middlesbrough, standing 185 cm tall. He is from Scotland. Derby currently sit 16th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, M. Johnston has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 103 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

M. Johnston's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Derby face Swansea at home in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Johnston at 60.9 with a Season form score of 8.6. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 5 career titles — among them the Bundesliga and the Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 7 recorded seasons, M. Johnston has totalled 113 club appearances with 4 goals and 7 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 25 appearances for Queen of the South.

M. Johnston's career has also included time at Sturm Graz, Motherwell, CCove Rangers and QQueen of the South.

On the international stage, M. Johnston has represented Scotland, Scotland U21, Scotland U19 — 12 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.