From County Glory to the Premier League: the Alleyne legacy has a new stage.
Manchester City defender Max Alleyne made his Premier League debut on Wednesday against Brighton, stepping into the spotlight once occupied by his father — but on a very different field.
At just 20, the England Under-21 international was drafted in by Pep Guardiola to help plug City’s growing defensive crisis, with injuries sidelining Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
Recalled from a season-long loan at Watford, Max seized his chance at the Etihad, marking a significant milestone in a career shaped by elite sport — even if not the one that made his family name.
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His father, Mark Alleyne, is a towering figure in English county cricket.
A former England all-rounder and current Gloucestershire head coach, he earned 10 ODI caps and captained the county to six limited-overs trophies between 1999 and 2003, later returning to guide them to the 2024 T20 Blast title. Across formats, he represented Gloucestershire more than 750 times, carving out a legacy of leadership and longevity.
Max, however, chose his own path.
“I never really played cricket, and I don’t watch it,” he admitted earlier this year in an interview with BBC Sport. “He was never pushy. I loved football, so I just kept playing.”
That freedom paid off. Signed from Southampton’s academy in 2021 for £1.5 million, Max developed rapidly at City, helping the elite development squad win the Premier League 2 title last season and earning the club’s Under-21 Player of the Year award.
City’s faith was underlined with a long-term contract keeping him at the club until 2030.
