Hull City's Liam Millar Clause Could Complicate Birmingham City Permanent Deal

Hull City's contract option on Liam Millar could scupper Birmingham City's hopes of a free transfer

Birmingham City's impressive loanee Liam Millar has four goals and three assists in eight Championship games, but parent club Hull City possess a 12-month contract extension option that could force the Blues to pay a fee for a permanent deal next summer.

Player: Liam Millar (Canada international winger)
Current club: Birmingham City (on loan from Hull City)
Loan status: No January recall clause; stays for the season
Contract: Hull deal expires end of season; Hull hold 12-month option
Form: 4 goals, 3 assists in 8 Championship appearances
Birmingham position: Seventh in Championship after 12 matches

What was said

"I can give everyone their Christmas present early and say that there's no return clause to Hull and he's with us for the whole season. Which makes us all happy."
— Birmingham City manager Chris Davies, on Millar's loan status

"He's been super. He's got energy, he's got intelligence, but he's got quality. He looks like he's made for this place. We love having him here; he seems to love being here, and that's a good combination."
— Chris Davies, on Millar's impact at St Andrew's

Davies' first comment removes any fear of a January recall, giving Birmingham a settled left-sided attacker for the promotion run-in. His second reveals why the Blues are so keen on a permanent deal: Millar's blend of energy and quality has made him a fixture in the starting XI.

But neither quote addresses the elephant in the room — the contract option at Hull. Davies can plan with Millar for this season, yet the manager's influence over next season's squad is limited by a clause he cannot control.

The numbers

8 Championship appearances for Birmingham City
4 goals scored
3 assists provided
12 matches played by Birmingham City in the Championship this season
7th — Birmingham's current league position
12 months — length of Hull City's contract extension option

Deal details

Liam Millar joined Birmingham City on loan from Hull City at the end of the transfer window. The loan contains no recall clause for January, meaning he will remain at St Andrew's for the entire 2026/27 campaign.

Millar's Hull contract expires at the end of the season, but the Tigers hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months. If exercised, Millar would be under contract until the summer of 2028, preventing Birmingham from signing him on a free transfer and forcing them into a fee negotiation.

Hull are therefore in a strong bargaining position. A transfer fee for Millar would be a significant boost next summer, whether the Tigers are in the Premier League or the Championship.

Why Hull's option changes Birmingham's transfer maths

Birmingham's recruitment team would have viewed Millar's expiring Hull deal as an opportunity. A strong loan spell, a promotion push and a player seemingly happy in the Second City — the ingredients for a cut-price permanent deal were all there. Hull's option flips that logic entirely.

By triggering the extension, Hull ensure Millar cannot walk away for nothing. Birmingham would then be negotiating against a club with no need to sell and every reason to demand a premium for a 27-year-old winger in form. The Blues' budget, already stretched by the club's ambitious rebuild, would be tested.

The alternative is that Hull recall nothing and simply sell to the highest bidder. If Millar keeps scoring and assisting, Premier League sides could enter the race next summer. Birmingham's own promotion would change the equation, but if they fall short and Millar shines, a permanent deal becomes far harder to justify financially.

On the pitch, Millar's left-sided energy has been central to Davies' system. His debut against Wolves in September set the tone, and his first goal in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough underlined his eye for a key moment. Birmingham will lean on him heavily as the season progresses, knowing his long-term future remains unresolved.

Talking points

Should Birmingham pay a fee for a 27-year-old loanee, or is Hull's option a warning to look elsewhere for better value?
Hull exercising the option is a no-brainer — but does it risk souring relations with a player who seems to love Birmingham?
If Millar keeps delivering, Premier League clubs will circle. Birmingham's promotion is now the only thing that guarantees his signature.
Davies' early Christmas present secures the player for this season, but the real battle is a summer negotiation he cannot control.

What happens next

Millar will remain at Birmingham for the rest of the season, with his next opportunity to add to his four-goal tally in the coming Championship fixtures. The decisive moment comes next summer, when Hull must decide whether to trigger the 12-month option or sell. Birmingham's promotion bid — and Millar's form — will dictate whether a permanent deal is realistic.