 Clark training withVitesse in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Max Oliver Clark[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1996-01-19)19 January 1996 (age 29)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Kingston upon Hull, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender,midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gillingham | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2006 | Barham Boys Club | ||
| 2006–2014 | Hull City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2018 | Hull City | 27 | (0) |
| 2016 | →Cambridge United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | →Cambridge United (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| 2018–2021 | Vitesse | 46 | (2) |
| 2021 | Hull City | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Fleetwood Town | 10 | (0) |
| 2022 | Rochdale | 23 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Stevenage | 38 | (1) |
| 2023– | Gillingham | 55 | (4) |
| International career | |||
| 2010–2012 | England U16 | 12 | (0) |
| 2012 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:47, 2 April 2025 (UTC) | |||
Max Oliver Clark (born 19 January 1996) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as adefender or amidfielder forEFL League Two clubGillingham. He has represented England atunder-16 andunder-17 levels.
Born inKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire,[2] Clark started out at Barham Boys Club before joining theyouth system ofHull City in 2006, where he began his youth career.[3][4] After progressing through the academy, Clark signed his first professional contract with the club and was promoted to the development squad.[5] After a season with the development squad, Clark signed a one-year contract extension with the club,[6] which was later extended once more.[7]
Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Clark was featured in the first team's pre–season after being called up by new ManagerLeonid Slutsky.[8] He made his league debut for Hull City on the opening day of the 2017–18 season, 5 August 2017, away atAston Villa, in a 1–1 draw.[9] Since making his debut, Clark found himself, competing with new signingStephen Kingsley over the left–back position.[10] Over several months, both Clark and Kingsley fought each over the left–back position, which resulted in both of them either placed on the substitute bench.[11] As a result of his performance, the club began a negotiation deal over a new contract for Clark.[12] After being on the substitute at the beginning of 2018, he regained back his first team place in the left–back position by February.[13] Over the next two months, Clark continued to feature in the left–back before losing his place to Kingsley for the rest of the season.[14] The 2017–18 season proved to be Clark's breakthrough at Hull City, as 30 appearances in all competitions.[4]
However, his future at Hull City was in doubt as it was yet finalised over the last eight months since opening talks and reportedly turned down the contract.[15] On 18 May 2018, Clark was among four players to be offered a new contract by the club.[16]
On 25 March 2016, Clark signed forLeague Two clubCambridge United onloan until the end of2015–16.[17] He made his debut later that day as a 55th-minutesubstitute forLuke Berry in a 3–0 defeat away toBristol Rovers.[18] In a follow-up match againstOxford United on 28 March 2010, he started and played 75 minutes before coming off as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw.[19] Clark finished his loan spell with nine appearances before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.[20][21]
On 30 June 2016, Clark re-signed for Cambridge United on a six-month loan.[22] His first appearance after rejoining the club came on the opening day of2016–17 season in a 1–1 draw at home toBarnet.[23][24] Since joining the club for the second time, he continued to regain his first team place throughout the season.[25] Clark then set up two goals during a match againstCheltenham Town on 26 November 2016, in a 3–1 win.[26] On 10 December 2016, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 5–0 thrashing win overHartlepool United.[27] On 1 January 2017, Clark's loan at Cambridge was extended until the end of the season.[28] After being featured in the first team for the next two months, Clark, however, was sent–off for a straight red card for a late tackle onNicky Deverdics, in a 1–0 loss against Hartlepool United on 14 March 2017.[29] Although he was suspended, Clark never played for the side for the rest of the season.[30] He completed the loan spell with 35 appearances and one goal in all competitions before returning to his parent club.[23]
Clark signed forEredivisie clubVitesse on 22 June 2018 on a three-year contract after rejecting a new contract with Hull.[31] Hull received compensation from Vitesse, reported by theHull Daily Mail as "in the region of £400,000".[31] On 9 August 2018, Clark made his Vitesse debut as well as hisEuropean debut during their 1–0 defeat toBasel in theUEFA Europa League third qualifying round, replacingAlexander Büttner with three minutes remaining.[32]
Clark returned to Hull City on 1 February 2021 on a short 4 month deal.[33] On 18 May 2021, the club announced that Clark would leave the club at the end of the 2020–21 season.[34]
On 17 June 2021, Clark agreed a one-year deal to joinFleetwood Town with the club holding the option for a second year.[35]
On 20 January 2022, Clark leftFleetwood Town by mutual consent.[36]
On 21 January 2022, Clark signed forRochdale on a deal until the end of the season.[37]
On 16 June 2022, Clark agreed a deal to joinStevenage upon the expiration of his contract with Rochdale, having opted against extending his short-term contract.[38]
In July 2023, Clark joinedGillingham.[39]
On 5 June 2025, the club announced the player had signed a new one-year contract.[40]
.
While at the academy, Clark was first called up to theEngland under-16 team on 15 October 2010 againstWales.[3] He made 12 appearances for England U16s.[41]
In August 2012, Clark was called up by theEngland under-17 team for the first time.[42] He played in three matches for England U17s againstItaly,Turkey andPortugal.[43]
Clark was also called up by theEngland under-18 team for the first time in November 2013.[44]
Growing up, Clark attended Ings Road Primary School andMalet Lambert High School.[3][4]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hull City | 2014–15[45] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16[21] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[23] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18[46] | Championship | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| Total | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Cambridge United (loan) | 2015–16[21] | League Two | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17[23] | League Two | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| Total | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 1 | ||
| Vitesse | 2018–19[47] | Eredivisie | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 1 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2019–20[47] | Eredivisie | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21[47] | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | 57 | 3 | |||
| Hull City | 2020–21[47] | League One | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Fleetwood Town | 2021–22[48] | League One | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Rochdale | 2021–22[48] | League Two | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Career total | 142 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 169 | 5 | ||