Liam Fraser Explained

Liam Fraser
Fullname:Liam Scott Fraser[1]
Birth Date:13 February 1998
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.85m (06.07feet)
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:FC Dallas
Clubnumber:18
Youthclubs1:Waterloo United
Youthclubs2:Peace Arch AC
Youthclubs3:Surrey Guildford
Youthclubs4:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Youthyears5:2013–2016
Youthclubs5:Toronto FC
Clubs1:Toronto FC III
Years1:2015
Caps1:8
Goals1:1
Clubs2:Toronto FC II
Years2:2015–2019
Caps2:64
Goals2:2
Clubs3:Toronto FC
Years3:2018–2021
Caps3:34
Goals3:0
Clubs4:Columbus Crew (loan)
Years4:2021
Caps4:23
Goals4:0
Clubs5:Deinze
Years5:2022–2023
Caps5:36
Goals5:0
Clubs6:FC Dallas
Years6:2023–
Caps6:25
Goals6:1
Nationalyears1:2016–2017
Nationalteam1:Canada U20
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2019–
Nationalteam2:Canada
Nationalcaps2:19
Nationalgoals2:0
Pcupdate:June 29, 2024
Ntupdate:July 9, 2023

Liam Scott Fraser (born February 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas and the Canada national team.

Club career

Early career

He began playing youth soccer with Waterloo United, Peach Arch AC, and Surrey Guildford.[2]

Fraser was part of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency program until January 2013, when he moved to Toronto FC. Fraser was critical of the Whitecaps organization and cited a lack of opportunity as the main reason for his switch.[3]

He represented TFC Academy in both League1 Ontario and the Premier Development League in 2015.[4]

Toronto FC II

In 2015, Fraser was later called up to represent affiliate club Toronto FC II, and went on to make 10 appearances during the 2015 USL season. On June 6, 2015, Fraser made his professional debut in a 0–0 draw with Harrisburg City Islanders.[5]

He signed his first professional contract on February 9, 2016, when he joined Toronto FC II on a permanent basis ahead of the 2016 USL season.[6] In 2017, amongst rumours that he would sign a first team deal with Toronto FC, Fraser was listed #15 in the USL's annual 20 Under 20 list.[7] [8] During the 2017 offseason, Fraser would train with Danish club HB Køge.[9] Upon completion of the 2017 season, Toronto FC II would exercise the option on Fraser's contract for the 2018 season.[10]

Toronto FC

He signed with Toronto FC as a homegrown player on January 19, 2018.[11] On April 14, 2018, Fraser made his debut for the first team, in a Major League Soccer game against the Colorado Rapids. Fraser would have his option for the 2020 season exercised by Toronto, keeping him with the club for 2020.[12]

On May 3, 2021, Fraser was loaned to fellow MLS side Columbus Crew SC for the remainder of the 2021 season, with Toronto receiving $50,000 of General Allocation Money.[13]

Deinze

In January 2022, Fraser joined Belgian First Division B side Deinze on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[14] He made his debut for the club on February 9 against Westerlo.[15] [16]

Dallas

In August 2023, Fraser transferred to Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.[17] He made his debut for the club on August 30 against St. Louis City SC, as a substitute for Paxton Pomykal.[18] In November 2023 FC Dallas announced they had exercised Fraser's contract option, keeping him at the club.[19]

International

Youth

Fraser was called up to the Under-20 Development Camp squad in Ontario in September 2015, but did not feature under coach Rob Gale. He was then called up for the Under-20 International Camp squad in England in March 2016, but again failed to make his international debut. In August 2016, Fraser was called up to the U-20 team for a pair of friendlies against Costa Rica[20] In February 2017, Fraser was named to Canada's roster for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship[21]

Fraser was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[22]

Senior

After multiple camp call-ups in 2018 and 2019, Fraser made his debut for the Canadian senior team on October 15, 2019, as a substitute in a 2–0 win against the USA.[23] In July 2021 Fraser was named to Canada's squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[24]

In November 2022, Fraser was named to Canada's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[25] He did not make an appearance at the tournament as Canada was eliminated in the group stage.

In June 2023 Fraser was named to Canada's preliminary roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[26] Initially left off the roster, on June 26 he was called into the final squad along with Jayden Nelson as replacements for Sam Adekugbe and Stephen Eustáquio.[27]

Career statistics

Club

[28]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III2015League1 Ontario??????
2015[29] PDL8181
Total8100000081
Toronto FC II2015USL100100
2016222222
2017200200
2018100100
2019USL League One2020
Total642000000642
Toronto FC2018MLS10020120
20199020110
202013010140
2021101020
Total330104010390
Columbus Crew (loan)2021MLS230000010240
Deinze2021–22Challenger Pro League10000100
2022–2326010270
Total360001000370
FC Dallas2023MLS70300000100
2024181001000191
Total251301000291
Career total18943060202004

International

Canada
YearAppsGoals
201910
202030
202170
202240
202340
Total190

Honours

Club

Columbus Crew

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Canada (CAN) . . 6 . November 15, 2022 . November 15, 2022.
  2. Web site: Canada Soccer announces squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. November 12, 2022. Canadian Soccer Association.
  3. News: Liam Fraser bides his time with TFC but believes he is ready for more . Canadian Press . Sportsnet . October 23, 2019.
  4. Web site: Fraser Looks for Consistency in Toronto. March 5, 2016. United Soccer League.
  5. Web site: Canada – L. Fraser – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. us.soccerway.com. March 25, 2016.
  6. Web site: Liam Fraser. Toronto FC. March 25, 2016.
  7. Web site: Viareggio Cup captain Liam Fraser could be Toronto FC's next homegrown signing. Red Nation Online. March 15, 2017. James Grossi.
  8. Web site: USL 20 Under 20 – No. 11 through No. 15. USL Soccer. July 20, 2017.
  9. Web site: TFC II send four on training stint to Denmark. Waking The Red. James Grossi. November 12, 2017.
  10. Web site: Toronto FC II announce roster moves. Toronto FC. December 4, 2017.
  11. Web site: Toronto FC sign Liam Fraser | Toronto FC.
  12. Web site: Toronto FC announces roster decisions to conclude 2019 season. Toronto FC. November 21, 2019.
  13. Web site: Columbus Crew acquire Liam Fraser on loan from Toronto FC. Tom. Bogert. Major League Soccer. May 3, 2021.
  14. Web site: De Eerste Wintertransfer is er:Canadese Liam Fraser Tekent een contract van 2,5 seizoenen. January 18, 2022. The first winter transfer is here: Canadian Liam Fraser Signs a 2.5 Season Contract. Deinze. Dutch.
  15. Web site: Wedstrijdverslag. Match report. Dutch. K.M.S.K. Deinze. February 9, 2022.
  16. Web site: Westerlo krijgt nieuwe nederlaag aangesmeerd door zwarte beest Deinze. Westerlo gets another defeat smeared by black beast Deinze. Dutch. February 9, 2022. Kersten. Steurbaut. Gazet van Antwerpen.
  17. Web site: FC Dallas Sign Canadian International Liam Fraser from KMSK Deinze of Belgium. FC Dallas. en. August 4, 2023. August 4, 2023.
  18. Web site: St. Louis tops ten-man FC Dallas 2-1. 3rd Degree. Dan. Crooke. August 30, 2023.
  19. Web site: FC Dallas Announces Roster Decisions for 2024 Season. November 30, 2023. FC Dallas.
  20. Web site: Canada m20 announces squad and matches against Costa Rica. Canada Soccer Association. August 24, 2016.
  21. Web site: Canada names young squad for CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Neil Davidson. Sportsnet. February 9, 2017.
  22. Web site: Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying . Canada Soccer . February 26, 2020 . February 26, 2020.
  23. Web site: Squizz's burning questions: Did John Herdman silence his critics?. Daniel. Squizzato. October 16, 2019.
  24. Web site: CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2021 CONCACAF GOLD CUP ROSTER. July 1, 2021.
  25. Web site: Canada announces 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. November 13, 2022. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  26. Web site: National team roster - 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. 1 June 2023.
  27. Web site: Eustaquio, Adekugbe replaced by Nelson, Fraser for Canada at Gold Cup. June 26, 2023.
  28. Web site: Liam Fraser profile. Soccerway.
  29. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150722044257/http://uslpdl.com/teams/2015/74548977.html. July 22, 2015. TFC Academy PDL 2015. Premier Development League. dead.