Liam Millar

Early Life and Youth Development

Liam Millar was born in Toronto, Ontario, and spent his formative years in the Greater Toronto Area suburbs of Brampton and Oakville. His introduction to soccer came at the age of four when he joined Brampton Youth SC, beginning a journey that would see him develop within the Ontario youth soccer system. After two years with Brampton, he moved to North Mississauga SC, where he continued to hone his skills before a subsequent stint with Burlington SC. Demonstrating significant promise from a young age, Millar made the substantial decision to move to England at 13 years old to join the academy of Premier League club Fulham, a move aimed at accelerating his footballing education. He later reflected that adapting to the pace and physicality of English football was challenging, stating it took him approximately two and a half years to fully adjust. His father, who had a background playing for Charlton Athletic, supported the family as an electrician, working on productions such as the television series Game of Thrones.

Club Career in England and Scotland

Millar's professional club career began in earnest after he joined Liverpool's academy on a free transfer in July 2016. He made an immediate impact for the Liverpool under-18 side, scoring four minutes into his debut and later netting a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. He signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday in September 2016. Despite an injury that sidelined him for three months in his first season, he finished the 2016-17 under-18 Premier League campaign with six goals in 17 appearances. His development continued under the guidance of coach Steven Gerrard, and he earned a call-up to the under-23 squad in January 2018. Millar's sole senior appearance for Liverpool came on February 4, 2020, when he started in an FA Cup fourth-round replay against Shrewsbury Town before being substituted in the 82nd minute.

To gain first-team experience, Millar went on several loan spells. His first move was to Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock in January 2019, where he made his debut in a 2-1 loss to Heart of Midlothian and scored his first senior goal against St Mirren in March. He returned to Kilmarnock on loan for the start of the 2019-20 season, but the spell was cut short in January 2020. In January 2021, he joined Charlton Athletic in English League One on loan for the remainder of the season. He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 1-0 win over MK Dons on January 26 and made 27 total appearances, scoring twice during his time with the club.

Move to Basel and Loan to Preston

In July 2021, Millar secured a permanent transfer away from Liverpool, joining Swiss Super League club Basel on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £1.3 million. Liverpool negotiated a 20 percent sell-on clause as part of the transfer. Millar made his league debut for Basel as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Grasshopper Club on July 25, 2021. He scored his first goal for the club in a Swiss Cup match against FC Rorschach-Goldach on September 19, followed by his first league goal against Zürich a week later. His first European goal came in the UEFA Europa Conference League against Omonia on November 4. In his first season, Millar was a regular contributor, playing 31 league games and scoring seven goals, while also featuring in 12 Conference League matches where he scored twice as Basel reached the round of 16.

The following 2022-23 season saw Millar play 26 league matches and 16 more in the Europa Conference League, where he scored once against Crusaders and helped Basel reach the semi-finals before they were eliminated by Fiorentina. In September 2023, Millar returned to England on a season-long loan to EFL Championship side Preston North End. He marked his debut on September 16 with a goal in a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. On December 26, he provided a goal and an assist in a 2-1 home win against Leeds United, contributing to Preston's campaign throughout the season before his return to Basel.

Hull City and Premier League Promotion

Millar returned to the EFL Championship on a permanent basis on August 9, 2024, signing a three-year contract with Hull City for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut the following day as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City. His time at Hull was immediately marked by both promise and adversity. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 away win at Queens Park Rangers on October 1, 2024. However, his season was cruelly cut short just weeks later when he suffered a major tear to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a match against Burnley on October 23, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. After an 11-month rehabilitation, Millar made his long-awaited return on September 30, 2025, coming off the bench in a 2-2 draw with Preston North End.

He scored his first goal post-injury on October 21 in a 2-1 win over Leicester City. His comeback was again interrupted by a suspected hamstring injury sustained against Charlton Athletic on October 25. Despite these setbacks, Millar was part of the Hull City squad that achieved promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs in 2026. Just days later, on September 1, he joined Birmingham City on loan, moving to secure regular playing time in the Championship.

• August 9, 2024: Signs permanent three-year deal with Hull City.
• October 1, 2024: Scores first Hull City goal vs. Queens Park Rangers.
• October 23, 2024: Suffers season-ending ACL injury.
• September 30, 2025: Returns from injury vs. Preston North End.
• October 21, 2025: Scores first goal post-injury vs. Leicester City.
• 2026: Wins promotion to Premier League with Hull City via playoffs.
• September 1, 2026: Joins Birmingham City on loan.

International Career with Canada

Liam Millar's international journey began at the youth level, with involvement in the Tournoi Montaigu at age 14 and a debut at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in 2017. His senior debut came remarkably early, before his club debut for Liverpool, when he was named in John Herdman's first squad as Canada manager in March 2018. Millar started in a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand, impressing in his first outing. He has since become a fixture in the national team setup, earning selection for major tournaments across CONCACAF and the world. Millar was part of Canada's squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making one appearance as a substitute in Canada's opening match against Belgium.

He featured again at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored his first senior international goal on July 4 in a 4-2 group stage victory over Cuba. His tournament involvement continued with a call-up for the 2024 Copa América, where Canada participated as an invited guest. In May 2026, Millar was named to Canada's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the nation is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico. This consistent selection for major tournaments across multiple years demonstrates his established role as a reliable attacking option for the Canadian national team.

Style of Play and Personal Life

Described as a versatile and intelligent attacker, Liam Millar's preferred position is as a central striker, but he has been effectively utilized on the left flank throughout his career due to his pace, movement, and finishing ability. Former Liverpool youth coach Neil Critchley highlighted his attributes in 2016, noting Millar is a goalscorer who can run behind defenders, possesses good movement and awareness, and is a calm finisher with both feet. This flexibility has allowed him to adapt to various tactical systems and roles at both club and international level. His game is built around exploiting space, taking on defenders, and contributing to the attack with goals and assists, a skillset that has made him valuable to teams in England, Scotland, Switzerland, and for Canada.

Off the pitch, Liam Millar is married to Daniela Paniccia. She played for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Oakville Hornets in the Provincial Women's Hockey League. They have three daughters together. Millar moved to England at the age of 13 for footballing purposes. He suffered a major tear to his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2024, which ruled him out for the remainder of that season. He spent 11 months recovering before returning to play for Hull City, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs in 2026.

Questions about Liam Millar

Which clubs has Liam Millar played for?

Liam Millar's club career began in the youth academies of Fulham and Liverpool in England. He made one senior appearance for Liverpool in 2020 before loan spells at Kilmarnock in Scotland and Charlton Athletic in England. In 2021, he transferred permanently to Swiss club Basel, followed by a loan to Preston North End. He joined Hull City in 2024 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2026. In September 2026, he moved on loan to Birmingham City from Hull City to continue his career in the EFL Championship.

How many times has Liam Millar played for Canada at the World Cup?

Liam Millar has been selected for two FIFA World Cup tournaments with the Canada national team. He was called up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he made one appearance as a substitute in Canada's opening match against Belgium. In May 2026, he was again named to Canada's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico. His involvement in these tournaments highlights his role as an experienced international player for his country.

What major injury did Liam Millar suffer at Hull City?

In October 2024, shortly after joining Hull City, Liam Millar suffered a major tear to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a match against Burnley. The injury occurred just 13 minutes into the game, forcing him to be substituted immediately. The club confirmed he would miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Millar underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process, spending 11 months recovering before making his return to action in a match against Preston North End in September 2025.

When did Liam Millar score his first goal for Canada?

Liam Millar scored his first senior international goal for Canada on July 4, 2023, during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He netted the final goal in a 4-2 group stage victory over Cuba. This milestone came in his 23rd appearance for the national team, having made his debut back in March 2018. The goal was a significant moment in his international career, which has since included appearances at the Copa América and selection for multiple World Cups with the Canadian side.

Where did Liam Millar grow up in Canada?

Liam Millar was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was raised in the Greater Toronto Area suburbs of Brampton and Oakville. His early soccer development took place within the Ontario youth system, where he played for Brampton Youth SC, North Mississauga SC, and Burlington SC. At the age of 13, he moved to England to join the academy of Fulham, marking the beginning of his professional football journey abroad after his formative years in Canadian youth soccer.

What is Liam Millar's connection to Steven Gerrard?

Liam Millar's connection to Steven Gerrard came during his time in the Liverpool academy system. After joining Liverpool in 2016, Millar spent 18 months under the guidance of Gerrard, who was the manager of Liverpool's under-18 team at the time. Gerrard's coaching played a role in Millar's development, and it was during this period that Millar received his first call-up to the Liverpool under-23 squad in January 2018. This mentorship was part of Millar's formative years as a professional footballer at a major club.

Sources and further reading

• Liam Millar (Wikipedia)
• Liam Millar (canadasoccer.com)
• Liam Millar (liverpoolfc.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.