Max Dean (footballer)
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2004)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Max Dean
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|2|21|df=y}}
|birth_place = Ormskirk, England {{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/max-dean/ |title=Max Dean – Player Profile |website=WorldFootball.net |access-date=31 March 2025}}
|position = Striker
|currentclub = Gent
|clubnumber = 21
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Leeds United
|years1 = 2023–2024
|clubs1 = Milton Keynes Dons
|caps1 = 38
|goals1 = 16
|years2 = 2024–
|clubs2 = Gent
|caps2 = 17
|goals2 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = England U20
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 4
|club-update = 22:17, 26 December 2024 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 13:40, 12 December 2024 (UTC)
}}
Max Jimmy Dean (born 21 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club Gent.
Club career
=Leeds United=
Dean began his career with Leeds United,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesquareball.net/leeds-united/money-cant-buy-you-max-dean/|title=Money can't buy you Max Dean • The Square Ball|date=8 November 2022|website=www.thesquareball.net}} signing his first professional contract with the club in March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy/27907/max-dean-signs-professional-with-leeds-united|title=Max Dean signs professional deal|date=26 March 2021|website=www.leedsunited.com}}
=Milton Keynes Dons=
On 20 January 2023, Dean signed for League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, reuniting with his former Leeds United U23 coach Mark Jackson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64344053|title=Teenage striker Dean joins MK Dons from Leeds|work=BBC Sport }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30879/max-dean-signs-for-mk-dons|title=Max Dean signs for MK Dons|date=19 January 2023|website=www.leedsunited.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/joe-gelhardt-sends-max-dean-26027250|title=Joe Gelhardt's 'exit' message to former Leeds United teammate amid own departure|first=Oliver|last=Jones|date=20 January 2023|website=LeedsLive}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/who-is-mk-dons-latest-signing-max-dean-3994078|title=Who is MK Dons' latest signing Max Dean?}} He made his senior professional debut for the club a day later as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 away win against Forest Green Rovers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-loan-watch-as-out-of-contract-man-contributes-third-game-running-and-bate-continues-climb-3996154|title=Leeds United loan watch as out-of-contract man contributes third game running and Bate continues climb}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/forest-green-rovers-vs-milton-keynes-dons/teams/469256|title=Sky Bet League One (Sky Sports)|website=Sky Sports}} On 4 February 2023, Dean scored his first senior professional goal in a 2–0 away win over Bristol Rovers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64435780|title=Bristol Rovers 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons|work=BBC Sport }}
Following an impressive start to the 2023–24 season, Dean was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award for October 2023 having scored four goals in five appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/november/17/mk-dons--max-dean-scoops-the-efl-s-young-player-of-the-month-for-october/|title=MK Dons' Max Dean scoops the EFL's Young Player of the Month for October|website=www.efl.com|date=17 November 2023|accessdate=17 November 2023}}
Dean suffered an injury in February 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/dean-set-to-be-sidelined-for-several-weeks-with-injury-4504246|title=Dean set to be sidelined for several weeks with injury}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/dean-set-for-a-lengthy-spell-on-the-sidelines-through-injury-4508697|title=Dean set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury}} After returning to the first-team, he scored two goals and made two further assists in a 5–0 victory against Walsall on 30 March 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/comeback-kid-dean-wanted-to-make-an-immediate-impact-against-walsall-4574408|title=Comeback Kid Dean wanted to make an immediate impact against Walsall}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/a-song-of-fire-and-ice-for-dean-as-he-reclaims-his-dons-throne-4574418|title=A song of fire and ice for Dean as he reclaims his Dons throne}} With the club reaching the play-offs, Dean finished the season as top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions, and was named Milton Keynes Dons' Young Player of the Year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2024/may/awards-night-2024/ |title=Awards Night 2024 |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=1 May 2024 |accessdate=10 May 2024 }}
=Gent=
On 12 July 2024, Dean joined Belgian Pro League club Gent on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2024/july/12/max-dean-departs-mk-dons/ |title=Max Dean Departs MK Dons |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=12 July 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.kaagent.be/nl/nieuws/12-07-2024/welcome-max-dean |title=Welkom, Max Dean! |publisher=KAA Gent |date=12 July 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cevwdgd5vqxo|title=Max Dean: MK Dons striker joins Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent|date=12 July 2024|website=BBC Sport}} He made his competitive debut for the club on 1 August 2024 in a 3–0 second leg UEFA Conference League second qualifying round away win over Vikingur, a game in which he provided an assist and scored from the penalty spot.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/crgrv8ngp9nt?page=2 |title=Vikingur vs Gent: UEFA Conference League |publisher=BBC |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 }}
Dean scored in his next two games for Gent, in both legs of the third qualifying round tie against Silkeborg IF.{{Cite web|title=Van vieren naar vloeken in blessuretijd: KAA Gent geeft late voorsprong in 95e minuut nog uit handen tegen Silkeborg (From celebrating to cursing in injury time: KAA Gent gives up a late lead in the 95th minute against Silkeborg)|url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/eur/uefa-europa-conference-league/2024-2025/177789/01/silkeborg-if-kaa-gent-van-vieren-naar-vloeken-in-blessuretijd-kaa-gent-geeft-late-voorsprong-in-95e-minuut-nog-uit-handen-tegen-silkeborg~1720803782046/|access-date=1 October 2024|date=8 August 2024|website=Sporza|language=nl}}{{Cite web|title=AA Gent redt zijn vel in Europa pas na verlengingen, Gandelman is de held tegen Silkeborg (Gent only saves its skin in Europe after extra time, Gandelman is the hero against Silkeborg)|url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/eur/uefa-conference-league/2024-2025/3e-kwalificatieronde/02/kaa-gent-silkeborg-if-aa-gent-redt-zijn-vel-in-europa-pas-na-verlengingen-gandelman-is-de-held-tegen-silkeborg~1720803845370/|access-date=1 October 2024|date=15 August 2024|website=Sporza|language=nl}}
Dean was used sparingly by coach Wouter Vrancken in the early weeks of the 2024-25 Belgian Pro League season, but once given a starting place scored twice in the space of three games, including in wins over Club Brugge,{{Cite web|title=Club Brugge domineert, maar incasseert dreun tegen KAA Gent na heerlijk duel met 6 goals (Club Brugge dominates, but takes a blow against KAA Gent after a wonderful duel with 6 goals)|url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/2024-2025/regulier/08/club-brugge-kaa-gent-club-brugge-domineert-maar-incasseert-dreun-tegen-kaa-gent-na-heerlijk-duel-met-6-goals~1718274547546/|access-date=1 October 2024|date=22 September 2024|website=Sporza|language=nl}} and Oud-Heverlee Leuven.{{Cite web|title=KAA Gent wist midweek-uitschuiver uit met overtuigende zege tegen OH Leuven en wordt tweede (KAA Gent erases midweek slip-up with convincing win against OH Leuven and takes second place)|url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/2024-2025/regulier/09/kaa-gent-oh-leuven-kaa-gent-wist-midweek-uitschuiver-uit-met-overtuigende-zege-tegen-oh-leuven-en-wordt-tweede~1718274551512/|access-date=1 October 2024|date=29 September 2024|website=Sporza|language=nl}}
International career
In October 2024, Dean was called up to an England age group squad for the first time, being selected for the England U20.{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Oct/04/england-mens-elite-league-squad-named-for-italy-czechia-october-games-20240410|title=England men's Elite League squad named for Italy and Czechia|website=englandfootball.com|date=4 October 2024|accessdate=11 October 2024}} He scored on his debut, coming off the bench during a 2–1 win over Italy,{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Oct/10/england-mens-elite-league-squad-italy-match-report-20241010|title=Report: England Men's ELS 2-1 Italy|website=englandfootball.com|date=10 October 2024|accessdate=11 October 2024}} going on to score twice in a 3-0 home win over the Czech Republic later in the week in his second game for his country.{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Oct/14/england-mens-elite-league-squad-czechia-match-report-20241410|title=Report: England ELS 3-0 Czechia|website=englandfootball.com|date=14 October 2024|accessdate=31 October 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 December 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Leeds United U21
|2020–21{{Soccerbase season|133508|2020|accessdate=17 October 2023}} |colspan="3"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| 2021–22{{Soccerbase season|133508|2021|accessdate=19 May 2023}}
|colspan="3"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 2022–23{{Soccerbase season|133508|2022|accessdate=19 May 2023}}
|colspan="3"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | colspan="2"|― | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||||
| rowspan="3"|Milton Keynes Dons
|9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|― | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24{{Soccerbase season|133508|2023|accessdate=17 October 2023}}
|29 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|― | 4{{efn|Three appearances and two goals in EFL Trophy, two appearances and one goal in League Two play-offs}} | 3 | 34 | 19 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!38 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|― | 4 | 3 | 43 | 20 | ||
| KAA Gent
|2024–25{{soccerway|max-dean/668568|accessdate=11 October 2024}} |17 | 6 | 2 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 11{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 4 | colspan="2"|― | 30 | 13 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!55 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 79 | 36 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- EFL Young Player of the Month: October 2023
- Milton Keynes Dons Young Player of the Year: 2023–24
References
{{reflist}}
{{K.A.A. Gent squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dean, Max}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)