Maxime Colin

Boulogne

Beginning his career as a forward, Colin spent his youth career as an amateur with a number of clubs in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, most notably Arras and Avion. After earning his degree, he turned professional and signed for newly promoted Ligue 1 club Boulogne on 2 July 2009, subsequently moving to right back. The club's relegation straight back to Ligue 2 at the first time of asking saw Colin sign a three-year professional contract in July 2010 and he broke into the team in September, going on to make 28 appearances during the 2010–11 season. He found first team action hard to come by during the 2011–12 season, making just 10 appearances as Boulogne suffered another relegation. Colin's final appearance for the club came in a Coupe de la Ligue first round shootout defeat to Niort on 7 August 2012, before his departure the following month. He made 52 appearances during three years at the Stade de la Libération.

Troyes

Colin moved back up to Ligue 1 to sign for Troyes on 3 September 2012. He was in and out of the team during the 2012–13 season, making 24 appearances and a run to the semi-final of the Coupe de France failed to gloss over Troyes' relegation to Ligue 2. Colin was an undisputed first choice during 2013–14, making 42 appearances as Troyes finished in mid-table and went out of the Coupe de la Ligue at the semi-final stage. He made three appearances early in the 2014–15 season before departing the club on 29 August 2014. Colin made 69 appearances during two seasons with Troyes.

Anderlecht

Colin moved to Belgium to sign a three-year contract with Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht on 28 August 2014. He made his debut for the Purple & White with a start in a 2–2 draw with Lierse on 13 September 2014 and he finally scored the first senior goal of his career on Boxing Day 2014, adding gloss to a 4–0 victory over Westerlo. Colin made his European debut in a 0–0 Europa League round of 32 first leg draw with Dynamo Moscow on 19 February 2015 and played in six matches of Anderlecht's run to the final of the 2014–15 Beker van Belgie, which was lost 2–1 to Club Brugge. He made 24 appearances and scored one goal during the 2014–15 season and helped Anderlecht to qualification for the Europa League. Colin made one appearance early in the 2015–16 season before departing the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on 14 August 2015. Colin later revealed that he departed because of an abundance of right backs at the club and manager Besnik Hasi could not guarantee that he would play more than 20 matches during the 2015–16 season.

Brentford

On 13 August 2015, Colin moved to England to join Championship side Brentford on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £900,000. He made his debut as a 58th-minute substitute for Akaki Gogia in a 1–0 defeat to Burnley 9 days later. After starting the following three matches, a knee ligament injury suffered in training in mid-September ruled Colin out until mid-December, when he returned with a start in a 4–2 victory over Huddersfield Town. He continued as a near-ever present until the end of the season, aside from missing four matches due to a groin injury suffered in late-February 2016.

Colin returned fully fit for 2016–17 pre-season, but missed the first two matches of the regular season due to a calf injury. He scored his first Bees goal during a 4–1 win over Reading on 27 September 2016 and followed with a further three goals during the season. Colin's season came to an end on 22 April 2017, his 40th appearance, when he suffered a hip injury and was substituted for Josh Clarke after 71 minutes of a 3–1 victory over hated rivals Queens Park Rangers.

Colin began the 2017–18 season behind new signing Henrik Dalsgaard in the right back pecking order and instead deputised for the injured Rico Henry in an unfamiliar left back position in the early matches of the season.

Birmingham City

Colin signed a four-year contract with another Championship club, Birmingham City, on 31 August 2017; the fee was undisclosed. He was one of six debutants in the next match, away to Norwich City; he played the whole match and was yellow-carded in the first half as his team lost 1–0. On his home debut – playing at left back to accommodate Emilio Nsue on the right – Colin controlled a ball over the top "and with his back to goal produced a brilliant turn which saw the whole goal open up. He then lashed a low shot which went through [the goalkeeper] for Blues' first goal in more than six hours of football" to open the scoring against Preston North End, who went on to win 3–1.

International career

Colin won seven caps for the France U20 team in 2011. He was named in the squad for the 2011 U20 World Cup and made appearances against Colombia and Mexico as France finished fourth in the tournament.

Career statistics