| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Max Harrison Sanders | ||
| Date of birth | 4 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Horsham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Notts County | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2017 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Lincoln City | 57 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Leyton Orient | 27 | (1) |
| 2024–2026 | Crewe Alexandra | 78 | (3) |
| 2026– | Notts County | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018 | England U19 | 4 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:24, 1 July 2026 (UTC) | |||
Max Harrison Sanders (born 4 January 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Notts County.
Sanders grew up in Horsham and attended Tanbridge House School in the town.
Before joining Brighton & Hove Albion's academy, Sanders had been with AFC Wimbledon's academy.
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.
Sanders joined AFC Wimbledon on loan from Brighton on 2 September 2019. 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. 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.
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. 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. 6 days later he started in The Seagulls 2–0 away win over Preston, this appearance also coming in the EFL Cup. 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.
On 1 February 2021, Sanders signed for Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee, with a deal running until 2023. Sanders was encouraged by Brighton sporting director Dan Ashworth to sign for Lincoln in order to play under Michael Appleton. 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. 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.
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. On 10 May 2023, it was announced in the clubs retained list that Sanders would leave the club at the end of his contract.
On 21 June 2023, Sanders became the first summer signing for newly promoted Leyton Orient. He signed a two-year contract, 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. He made his debut in the side's League Two opener away at Barrow. He scored his first Crewe goal on 6 October 2025, the winner in a 2–1 League Two victory at Harrogate Town. Just over two months later, on 13 December 2025, he scored the opening two goals in Crewe's 4–1 League Two win at Tranmere Rovers.
In June 2026, it was announced Sanders had rejected a new contract at the Alex and would sign for Notts County on a two-year deal with the option of a further year in the club's favour. Sanders picked up a calf problem in preseason and will suffer 3 months on the sidelines.
| 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 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | League Two | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| Total | 78 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 86 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 182 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 213 | 7 | ||