Contract terminated
©IMAGO
Gamba Osaka was actually supposed to be a new beginning for ex-DFB player Philipp Max, but after only seven weeks and without playing, this plan failed. As the Japanese first division club announced on Thursday, the contract with the left-back was terminated by mutual consent.
Max only made it into German coach Jens Wissing’s squad once. Since mid-March he has been missing ten times from Gamba Osaka’s squad, which will face Al-Nassr and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (41) in the final of the AFC Champions League Two on May 16th. Max will have to forego the possible title.
“After thinking intensively about my physical condition over the last few weeks, I have come to the conclusion that it will be difficult for me to make a sufficient contribution to the team on the pitch. This decision was not easy for me, but I consider it to be the best choice as a professional. I wish Gamba Osaka continued success. I will continue to follow the club with respect in the future,” explained Max.
Things haven’t really gone well for him since he left the Bundesliga. The former Augsburg and Frankfurt player spent a year and a half at Panathinaikos Athens before moving to Japan, but without really gaining a foothold there. Max only played eleven games for the Greeks, and he last played in a competitive game in March 2025. In terms of market value, it has gone from 2 million to 700,000 euros since leaving the Bundesliga in the summer of 2024.
Ex-Bundesliga professional Max grateful for his experiences in Osaka
Max added about his departure from Osaka: “My time at this club wasn’t particularly long, but I am grateful for the experiences I was able to gain here and for every single moment. From the very beginning, I was warmly welcomed by the club, my teammates, the staff and the fans. The high level of professionalism and discipline that I experienced in Japan, as well as the cohesion within the team, were invaluable to me.”
