Liam Millar

Early life and youth development in Canada and England

Liam Millar was born in Toronto, Ontario, and his family settled in the Greater Toronto Area communities of Brampton and Oakville. He began his organized soccer involvement at the age of four with Brampton Youth SC, a standard entry point for many young Canadian players. After two years developing there, he moved to North Mississauga SC, a club known for its youth development pathways, and he remained with them until his important move overseas. A subsequent period with Burlington SC rounded out his early Canadian club experience. At the age of 13, with familial support, Millar relocated to England to join the academy system at Premier League club Fulham. He later acknowledged the difficulty of this transition, stating it took him a good two and a half years to adjust to the physical and tactical demands of English football. His father, a former Charlton Athletic player turned electrician, provided a footballing background and worked on major television productions including Game of Thrones.

Academy progression and early professional contract at Liverpool

In July 2016, Millar joined the academy of Liverpool, one of England's most storied clubs, on a free transfer. His impact was immediate at the under-18 level, scoring just four minutes into his debut in the U18 Premier League. He further announced his potential by scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers U18s in August 2016. On his 17th birthday in September of that year, he signed his first professional contract with the club. His inaugural season was interrupted by a three-month injury, but upon his return in January 2017 he finished the campaign with six goals in 17 league appearances for the under-18 side. He featured in every match of Liverpool's 2017-18 UEFA Youth League campaign, scoring twice in eight games. During this period, he spent 18 months under the guidance of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who was coaching the under-18 squad, and this mentorship culminated in Millar's first call-up to the under-23 squad in January 2018.

Loan spells to gain first-team experience

Liverpool structured Millar's development through a series of loan moves to competitive first-team environments. On January 31, 2019, after signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool, he joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on loan for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. He made his debut the following day in a 2-1 loss to Heart of Midlothian and scored his first professional goal on March 11 against St Mirren. He returned to Kilmarnock on a second loan in August 2019, but this spell was cut short in January 2020 when he returned to Liverpool. His next loan move came on January 5, 2021, when he joined English League One club Charlton Athletic until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Charlton on January 26 in a 1-0 win over MK Dons, and he ended the season with two goals in 27 total appearances for the Addicks.

Permanent transfer to Basel and European competition

On July 8, 2021, Swiss Super League club FC Basel announced the signing of Millar on a four-year contract for a reported fee of £1.3 million, with Liverpool negotiating a 20 percent sell-on clause. He made his domestic league debut for Basel on July 25, 2021, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Grasshopper Club. His first goal for the club came in the Swiss Cup on September 19, 2021, against amateur side FC Rorschach-Goldach. He scored his first league goal for Basel a week later in a 3-1 victory over FC Zürich. Millar also scored in the UEFA Europa Conference League, netting an equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Cypriot team Omonia on November 4, 2021. In his first season, he made 31 league appearances and scored seven goals, while also playing 12 Conference League matches and scoring twice as Basel reached the round of 16. The following season, he played 26 league games and featured in 16 more Conference League matches, scoring once against Crusaders of Northern Ireland as Basel advanced to the semi-finals of the competition.

Return to England with Preston North End and Hull City

In September 2023, Millar returned to the EFL Championship on a season-long loan with Preston North End. He scored on his debut for the club on September 16, netting the second goal in a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle at Deepdale. On December 26, 2023, he registered a goal and an assist in a 2-1 home victory against Leeds United. His performances in England led to a permanent move on August 9, 2024, when he signed a three-year contract with Hull City for an undisclosed fee. He made his Hull debut the next day as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City. Millar scored his first goal for Hull on October 1, 2024, in a 3-1 away win at Queens Park Rangers. His season was catastrophically cut short on October 23, 2024, when he suffered a major tear to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) just 13 minutes into a match against Burnley, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

After an 11-month rehabilitation, Millar returned to action for Hull on September 30, 2025, playing the second half in a 2-2 draw with his former club Preston North End. He scored his first goal since the injury on October 21, 2025, netting the opener in a 2-1 home win over Leicester City. Just days later, on October 25, he suffered another setback with a suspected hamstring injury in a match against Charlton Athletic. Despite these interruptions, he was a part of the Hull City squad that secured promotion to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs in 2026. Millar started the play-off final at left wing in a 3-4-2-1 formation as Hull defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 with a stoppage-time winner at Wembley Stadium.

International career with Canadian youth and senior teams

Millar's international career began in youth setups, first being involved at age 14 for the Tournoi Montaigu. He made his debut at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in February 2017, making three appearances as Canada finished third in their group. In May 2018, he was named to Canada's under-21 squad for the Toulon Tournament. His senior debut came swiftly under new national team manager John Herdman in March 2018, when he started and impressed in a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand. He was named to the 23-man squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Millar was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, making one appearance as a substitute in Canada's opening match against Belgium. He scored his first senior international goal on July 4, 2023, during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, netting the final goal in a 4-2 victory over Cuba. He was subsequently named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América. A career high point was his selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, fulfilling a dream to represent his country on home soil in the global tournament.

Playing style and personal life

Liam Millar's primary position is as a central striker, but his career has seen him frequently deployed as a left winger due to his pace, direct running, and flexibility. During his time in Liverpool's academy, he was utilized in various attacking roles to develop his all-round game. His former Liverpool under-23 manager Neil Critchley provided an early assessment of his abilities, stating Millar is a goalscorer who can run down the side of defenders and in behind, with good movement and a calm finishing ability off both feet. Critchley also highlighted Millar's good brain and awareness on the pitch. In his personal life, Millar is married to Daniela Paniccia, a former ice hockey player for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Oakville Hornets in the Provincial Women's Hockey League. The couple have three daughters together.

Questions about Liam Millar

Which Canadian soccer team does Liam Millar play for?

Liam Millar plays for the Canada men's national soccer team, commonly known as the Canadian national team or CanMNT. He made his senior debut in 2018 and has since earned multiple caps. Millar has represented Canada at major tournaments including the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, the 2024 Copa América, and several CONCACAF Gold Cups. He scored his first international goal during the 2023 Gold Cup in a match against Cuba.

What position does Liam Millar play?

Liam Millar is primarily an attacking player who operates as an attacking midfielder or a left winger. His natural preference is to play as a central striker, a traditional number nine role. However, his pace, ability to run at defenders, and versatility have seen him frequently deployed on the left side of the attack throughout his club and international career. This flexibility has been a key asset for his teams.

How did Liam Millar get promoted to the Premier League?

Liam Millar achieved promotion to the Premier League with Hull City at the end of the 2025-26 season. Hull City finished sixth in the EFL Championship table, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. They defeated Millwall in the semi-finals and then faced Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley Stadium. Hull won the final 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal, securing their place in the Premier League for the first time in nine seasons. Millar started the final match on the left wing.

What teams has Liam Millar played for?

Liam Millar's professional club career began at Liverpool, where he made one senior appearance. He had loan spells at Kilmarnock in Scotland and Charlton Athletic in England. In 2021, he transferred permanently to FC Basel in the Swiss Super League, followed by a loan to Preston North End in the English Championship. In 2024, he signed for Hull City, winning promotion to the Premier League with them in 2026. In September 2026, he joined Birmingham City on a loan deal from Hull.

Where did Liam Millar grow up in Canada?

Liam Millar was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was raised in the Greater Toronto Area, specifically in the cities of Brampton and Oakville. His early soccer development took place with local youth clubs, including Brampton Youth SC, North Mississauga SC, and Burlington SC. He moved to England at the age of 13 to join the Fulham Academy, marking the start of his professional pathway abroad.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.