Max James Watters (born 23 March 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Dundee United, on loan from club Barnsley.
Watters started his career playing non-league football with Thurrock, Barking and Ashford United before signing with League One side Doncaster Rovers in summer 2018. Following loan spells at Grantham Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Mickleover Sports and Maidstone United, he was released by Doncaster Rovers at the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season. He signed for League Two club Crawley Town in October 2020, moving to Championship club Cardiff City in January 2021.
Born in Camden, Watters attended Hall Mead School and Shenfield High School.
Watters began his career in non-league football with Thurrock, Barking and Ashford United. He never made a first-team appearance for Thurrock. With Barking, he scored 3 goals in 11 league games, and 3 goals in 4 cup games. With Ashford, he scored 8 goals in 25 league games; he also made a further 2 cup appearances, without scoring.
In May 2018 it was announced that Watters would turn professional with Doncaster Rovers for the 2018âÂÂ19 season, joining the club on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He moved on loan to Grantham Town in August 2018. He scored 4 goals in 21 games in all competitions for Grantham Town. He then joined Northern Premier League club Gainsborough Trinity on 18 January 2019 on a month-long loan. He scored on his debut for the club the following day with the only goal of a 1âÂÂ0 win over Mickleover Sports.
In September 2019 he moved on loan to Mickleover Sports. He made his senior debut for Doncaster on 29 October 2019 in the EFL Trophy, before making his league debut on 7 December 2019 as a substitute in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Milton Keynes Dons. On 21 February 2020, he moved to Maidstone United on a month-long loan. He made his league debut for the club the following day, starting in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough. He failed to score in four league appearances whilst at Maidstone United. He was released by Doncaster at the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season, having made 5 league appearances whilst at the club.
After being released by Doncaster Rovers, Watters had trial spells with Maidstone United, Bromley and Dagenham & Redbridge before joining League Two club Crawley Town on trial after playing against them in a friendly for Maidstone United in September 2020. On 10 October 2020, he signed for Crawley Town on a one-year contract with the option of a further year. He scored on his Crawley debut on 13 October 2020 in an EFL Trophy tie against Arsenal U21s. He then scored twice on his league debut in a 4âÂÂ0 victory over Morecambe four days later. After scoring 5 goals in 5 League Two games for Crawley in October 2020, he was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for October, though it was awarded to Cambridge United striker Paul Mullin. Crawley's signing of Watters was praised by former footballer Stephen Warnock (appearing on the EFL on Quest TV show) as a "terrific piece of recruitment". Having scored 6 league goals in December 2020, including a brace as a substitute against Mansfield Town and a hat-trick against Barrow, he was awarded the League Two Player of the Month award for December.
He signed for Cardiff City on 16 January 2021 on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Crawley Town manager John Yems later suggested the fee was ã1 million.
On 8 July 2021, Watters joined League One side Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the duration of the 2021âÂÂ22 season. After missing the start of the season through injury, he scored his first goal for the club on 18 September 2021 in a 4âÂÂ1 away win over Gillingham. On 30 December 2021, Cardiff City activated a clause to return Watters from his loan early, having scored 7 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for MK Dons.
Following his return, on 22 January 2022 Watters scored his first goal for Cardiff in his first game back for the club in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat away to Bristol City.
On 5 January 2023, Watters returned to League One to join Barnsley on loan until the end of the 2022âÂÂ23 season. He scored his first goal for Barnsley on 11 February 2023 in a 2âÂÂ0 win against Cambridge United, but was later sent off in the same match.
He signed permanently for Barnsley in July 2023, having played 21 times, scoring four goals, across his loan with the club.
On 18 July 2025, Watters joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on a season-long loan.
Watters has represented England Schoolboys.