| Max Sanders | |
| Fullname: | Max Harrison Sanders[1] |
| Birth Date: | 4 January 1999[2] |
| Birth Place: | Horsham, England |
| Height: | 5ft 10in |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Clubnumber: | 6 |
| Youthyears1: | –2017 |
| Youthclubs1: | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Years1: | 2017–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs2: | → AFC Wimbledon (loan) |
| Caps2: | 20 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs3: | Lincoln City |
| Caps3: | 57 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | Leyton Orient |
| Caps4: | 27 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Caps5: | 1 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018 |
| Nationalteam1: | England U19 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 12:48, 11 August 2024 (UTC) |
Max Harrison Sanders (born 4 January 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Crewe Alexandra.
Sanders was first named in a matchday squad for Brighton & Hove Albion on 17 March 2018; he remained an unused substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup sixth round.[3]
Sanders joined AFC Wimbledon on loan from Brighton on 2 September 2019.[4] He subsequently made his professional debut for AFC Wimbledon on 7 September 2019, replacing Scott Wagstaff in the 45th minute of a 1–2 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons.[5] Sanders' sole goal during his loan spell at Wimbledon came on 15 February 2020, in a 2–2 draw to Rotherham United in League One.[6]
On 1 July 2020, Sanders signed a new one-year contract with Brighton which extended his stay at the club until the end of the 2020–21 season.[7] He made his debut for The Seagulls coming on as a sub in a 4–0 victory over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup on 17 September 2020.[8] 6 days later he started in The Seagulls 2–0 away win over Preston, this appearance also coming in the EFL Cup.[9] He made his third and final League Cup appearance of the season as an 81st-minute substitute for Jayson Molumby which The Seagulls lost 3–0 at home to Manchester United on 30 September falling short of the quarter-finals.[10]
On 1 February 2021, Sanders signed for Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee, with a deal running until 2023.[11] He made his debut on 17 February, starting in the EFL Trophy semi-final away at Sunderland, being replaced in the 58th minute in an eventual penalty shootout loss after a 1–1 draw.[12] He made his league debut for The Imps three days later, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute, one minute before Lincoln's winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Wigan.[13]
He scored his first goal for the side on 6 November 2021, scoring the only goal of the FA Cup first round fixture at home against Bowers & Pitsea.[14] On 10 May 2023, it was announced in the clubs retained list that Sanders would leave the club at the end of his contract.[15]
On 21 June 2023, Sanders became the first summer signing for newly promoted Leyton Orient. He signed a two-year contract with the reigning champions of League Two,[16] and made 30 appearances, scoring once, for the London club.
On 3 July 2024, Sanders joined Crewe Alexandra on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[17] He made his debut in the side's League Two opener away at Barrow.[18]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 2019–20 | League One | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Lincoln City | 2020–21 | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | League One | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | League One | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| Total | 57 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 72 | 2 | |||
| Leyton Orient | 2023–24 | League One | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2024–25 | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 105 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 128 | 4 | |||