Liam Boyce

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Liam Boyce
Boyce playing for Northern Ireland in 2019
Personal information
Full nameLiam Boyce[1]
Date of birth (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 34)
Place of birthBelfast, Northern Ireland
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
PositionForward
Team information
Current team
Derry City
Number27
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2010Cliftonville52(18)
2010–2011Werder Bremen II3(0)
2012–2014Cliftonville85(51)
2014–2017Ross County99(48)
2017–2020Burton Albion78(22)
2020–2025Heart of Midlothian93(28)
2025–Derry City24(8)
International career‡
2008–2009Northern Ireland U196(1)
2010–2012Northern Ireland U219(0)
2011–2021Northern Ireland28(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Liam Boyce (born 8 April 1991) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City and the Northern Ireland national team.

Boyce began his career at Cliftonville and returned to the club following a short spell at Werder Bremen II. He has since played for Ross County, Burton Albion and joined Heart of Midlothian in January 2020. Boyce made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team in February 2011.

Club career

[edit]

Cliftonville

[edit]

Boyce began his career at Cliftonville, scoring 19 goals in his debut season.[3] He won the IFA Premiership Player of the Month Award for April 2010,[4] and was named the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.[3] Boyce is from the Lower Falls in Belfast. He played for Immaculata for most of his youth years, during this time he attended St Joseph's Primary School Slate Street and St Mary's Grammar School, located on the Glen Road in Belfast, he spent all his secondary school years there and went on to study A Levels.

He was spotted by Cliftonville, and they signed him. He spent his first year there playing in the reserves but in the 2009–10 season, Boyce became a first team regular.

Boyce went on trial with Scottish club Celtic in July 2010,[3] and then held discussions in mid-August 2010 about a move to German club Greuther Fürth,[5] but the move collapsed a few days later.[6]

Boyce scored his first European goal against PFC CSKA Sofia in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League[7]

Werder Bremen

[edit]

Boyce eventually signed for German club Werder Bremen on 31 August 2010.[8] He was released by the German club in October 2011, having only made three appearances for the club's reserves side.

Return to Cliftonville

[edit]

Boyce rejoined Cliftonville in January 2012.[9] In the 2012–13 season, he helped Cliftonville win the league title for the first time since 1998, finishing as the league's top scorer with 29 league goals. He was also named as the 2012–13 Ulster Footballer of the Year[10] and Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year.[11] He won a second league title with the north Belfast club in 2013–14, scoring another 21 league goals before, in July 2014, the club announced that it had withdrawn its offer of a new contract to Boyce.[12]During this spell at the Reds, Boyce made eight appearances in European football, scoring once against Kalmar FF in the qualifiers of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.[13]

Ross County

[edit]

On 13 June 2014, it was announced Boyce had signed a pre-contract with Ross County.[14] On 13 April 2015, Boyce scored County's first ever top-flight hat-trick in a 3–0 win at St Mirren.[15] He then enjoyed a prolific season in 2015–16, scoring 17 goals in 24 games.[16] Boyce signed a new contract with County in February 2016.[16] He was the top goalscorer in the 2016–17 Scottish Premiership, with 23 goals.[17][18]

Burton Albion

[edit]

On 20 June 2017, Boyce became a club record signing for EFL Championship side Burton Albion, agreeing a three-year contract with the club.[19] Just weeks later, in a pre-season friendly match against Shrewsbury Town, Boyce suffered a serious knee injury that would keep him out of action for most of the 2017–18 season.[20] He returned to action on 3 February 2018, scoring as Burton lost 3–2 to Aston Villa. On 21 April, Boyce scored an injury-time winner that relegated Sunderland.[21]

Heart of Midlothian

[edit]

Boyce signed for Heart of Midlothian in January 2020 on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[22] He scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute of his debut against Rangers.[23]

Derry City

[edit]

On 11 January 2025, Boyce signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City on a two-year contract.[24] Boyce scored 11 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions, before his first season with the club was ended three months prematurely on 16 August 2025, following a hamstring injury in his side's FAI Cup exit at home to Drogheda United.[25]

International career

[edit]

On 31 January 2011, Boyce received his debut call-up to the Northern Ireland national team for the Nations Cup.[26] This call-up came after his move to German club Werder Bremen in September 2010. On 9 February 2011, Boyce made his debut against Scotland, when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Niall McGinn. He received his second call-up for Northern Ireland's Group C match against Serbia in Belgrade on 25 March 2011.

On 2 June 2017, Boyce scored his first goal for Northern Ireland in a 1–0 friendly victory over New Zealand at Windsor Park.[27]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played on 16 August 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cliftonville2008–09NIFL Premiership151–151
2009–10[2]3416–3416
2010–11[2]31——4[c]1–72
Total521841–5619
Werder Bremen II2010–113. Liga30—–——30
Cliftonville2011–12[2]NIFL Premiership1311000–4[d]1182
2012–13[2]362940432[c]12[d]14834
2013–14[2]362100422[e]0—4223
Total85515085416210859
Ross County2014–15[2]Scottish Premiership30101021——3311
2015–16[2]35152154——4220
2016–17[2]34232140——4024
Total994852115——11555
Burton Albion2017–18[2]Championship1630000——163
2018–19[2]League One37111162—1[f]04514
2019–20[2]2582145—1[f]03314
Total782232107—209431
Heart of Midlothian2019–20[2]Scottish Premiership722000——92
2020–21[2]Scottish Championship25142[g]210—002816
2021–22[2]Scottish Premiership31105254——4116
2022–23[2]5100002[c]0—71
2023–24[2]15100204[h]0—211
2024–25[2]10000104[i]0—150
Total93289494100—12136
Derry City2025[2]LOI Premier Division24823———2611
Career total4341752411382018282522211
  1. ^ Includes Irish Cup, Scottish Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Northern Ireland Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ a b Appearance in EFL Trophy
  7. ^ The later stages of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup were played in October and December 2020
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  9. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Conference League

International

[edit]
As of match played 30 May 2021[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland201140
201530
201610
201721
201870
201940
202061
202110
Total282
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.[2]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
12 June 2017Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland9 New Zealand1–01–0Friendly
218 November 2020Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland27 Romania1–01–12020–21 UEFA Nations League B

Honours

[edit]

Cliftonville

Ross County

Hearts

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Burton Albion" (PDF). English Football League. p. 11. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Liam Boyce at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce on trial at Celtic". BBC Sport. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce named player of month". BBC Sport. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Liam Boyce could be bound for German Bundesliga". BBC Sport. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Liam Boyce's proposed transfer appears to be doomed". BBC Sport. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Cliftonville Football Club » European Record".
  8. ^ "Liam Boyce agrees transfer to Werder Bremen". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Cliftonville set to beat Glentoran in battle to sign Liam Boyce". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Cliftonville Football Club". cliftonvillefc.net. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013.
  11. ^ a b "BBC Sport – Liam Boyce wins Football Writers Player of the Year award". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ "BBC Sport – Cliftonville withdraw Liam Boyce contract offer". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Cliftonville Football Club » European Record". cliftonvillefc.net.
  14. ^ "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce agrees move to Ross County". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Boyce hat-trick in Ross County win at St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Liam Boyce extends contract with Ross County until 2018". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership: Inverness relegated". Sporting Life. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Ross County have no interest in selling Liam Boyce – Jim McIntyre". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  19. ^ "BREWERS SIGN STRIKER IN RECORD-BREAKING DEAL". Burton Albion Official Site. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  20. ^ Fullteron, Gareth (1 August 2017). "Belfast Live". Liam Boyce ruled out for majority of season after rupturing anterior cruciate ligament. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  21. ^ "Sunderland 1-2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Hearts close to Liam Boyce deal as Toby Sibbick joins on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  23. ^ Lindsay, Clive (26 January 2020). "Heart of Midlothian 2-1 Rangers: Debutant Liam Boyce inspires defeat of title chasers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Boyce to Brandywell". 11 January 2025.
  25. ^ Reporter, Sports (28 August 2025). "Derry's Liam Boyce to miss rest of season". www.derrynow.com.
  26. ^ "NI SQUAD NAMED FOR SCOTLAND GAME". The Irish Football Association. 31 January 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  27. ^ "International friendly: Northern Ireland 1–0 New Zealand – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Liam Boyce". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  29. ^ Wilson, Richard (13 March 2016). "Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  30. ^ "Boyce wins PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year". Irish FA. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liam_Boyce&oldid=1319960181"

    Liam Boyce
    Boyce playing for Northern Ireland in 2019
    Personal information
    Full nameLiam Boyce[1]
    Date of birth (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 34)
    Place of birthBelfast, Northern Ireland
    Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
    PositionForward
    Team information
    Current team
    		Derry City
    Number27
    Senior career*
    YearsTeamApps(Gls)
    2008–2010Cliftonville52(18)
    2010–2011Werder Bremen II3(0)
    2012–2014Cliftonville85(51)
    2014–2017Ross County99(48)
    2017–2020Burton Albion78(22)
    2020–2025Heart of Midlothian93(28)
    2025–Derry City24(8)
    International career‡
    2008–2009Northern Ireland U196(1)
    2010–2012Northern Ireland U219(0)
    2011–2021Northern Ireland28(2)
    * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 August 2025 (UTC)
    ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 May 2021 (UTC)

    Liam Boyce (born 8 April 1991) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City and the Northern Ireland national team.

    Boyce began his career at Cliftonville and returned to the club following a short spell at Werder Bremen II. He has since played for Ross County, Burton Albion and joined Heart of Midlothian in January 2020. Boyce made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team in February 2011.

    Club career

    Cliftonville

    Boyce began his career at Cliftonville, scoring 19 goals in his debut season.[3] He won the IFA Premiership Player of the Month Award for April 2010,[4] and was named the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.[3] Boyce is from the Lower Falls in Belfast. He played for Immaculata for most of his youth years, during this time he attended St Joseph's Primary School Slate Street and St Mary's Grammar School, located on the Glen Road in Belfast, he spent all his secondary school years there and went on to study A Levels.

    He was spotted by Cliftonville, and they signed him. He spent his first year there playing in the reserves but in the 2009–10 season, Boyce became a first team regular.

    Boyce went on trial with Scottish club Celtic in July 2010,[3] and then held discussions in mid-August 2010 about a move to German club Greuther Fürth,[5] but the move collapsed a few days later.[6]

    Boyce scored his first European goal against PFC CSKA Sofia in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League[7]

    Werder Bremen

    Boyce eventually signed for German club Werder Bremen on 31 August 2010.[8] He was released by the German club in October 2011, having only made three appearances for the club's reserves side.

    Return to Cliftonville

    Boyce rejoined Cliftonville in January 2012.[9] In the 2012–13 season, he helped Cliftonville win the league title for the first time since 1998, finishing as the league's top scorer with 29 league goals. He was also named as the 2012–13 Ulster Footballer of the Year[10] and Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year.[11] He won a second league title with the north Belfast club in 2013–14, scoring another 21 league goals before, in July 2014, the club announced that it had withdrawn its offer of a new contract to Boyce.[12]During this spell at the Reds, Boyce made eight appearances in European football, scoring once against Kalmar FF in the qualifiers of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.[13]

    Ross County

    On 13 June 2014, it was announced Boyce had signed a pre-contract with Ross County.[14] On 13 April 2015, Boyce scored County's first ever top-flight hat-trick in a 3–0 win at St Mirren.[15] He then enjoyed a prolific season in 2015–16, scoring 17 goals in 24 games.[16] Boyce signed a new contract with County in February 2016.[16] He was the top goalscorer in the 2016–17 Scottish Premiership, with 23 goals.[17][18]

    Burton Albion

    On 20 June 2017, Boyce became a club record signing for EFL Championship side Burton Albion, agreeing a three-year contract with the club.[19] Just weeks later, in a pre-season friendly match against Shrewsbury Town, Boyce suffered a serious knee injury that would keep him out of action for most of the 2017–18 season.[20] He returned to action on 3 February 2018, scoring as Burton lost 3–2 to Aston Villa. On 21 April, Boyce scored an injury-time winner that relegated Sunderland.[21]

    Heart of Midlothian

    Boyce signed for Heart of Midlothian in January 2020 on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[22] He scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute of his debut against Rangers.[23]

    Derry City

    On 11 January 2025, Boyce signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City on a two-year contract.[24] Boyce scored 11 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions, before his first season with the club was ended three months prematurely on 16 August 2025, following a hamstring injury in his side's FAI Cup exit at home to Drogheda United.[25]

    International career

    On 31 January 2011, Boyce received his debut call-up to the Northern Ireland national team for the Nations Cup.[26] This call-up came after his move to German club Werder Bremen in September 2010. On 9 February 2011, Boyce made his debut against Scotland, when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Niall McGinn. He received his second call-up for Northern Ireland's Group C match against Serbia in Belgrade on 25 March 2011.

    On 2 June 2017, Boyce scored his first goal for Northern Ireland in a 1–0 friendly victory over New Zealand at Windsor Park.[27]

    Career statistics

    Club

    As of match played on 16 August 2025
    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]EuropeOtherTotal
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Cliftonville2008–09NIFL Premiership151–151
    2009–10[2]3416–3416
    2010–11[2]31——4[c]1–72
    Total521841–5619
    Werder Bremen II2010–113. Liga30—–——30
    Cliftonville2011–12[2]NIFL Premiership1311000–4[d]1182
    2012–13[2]362940432[c]12[d]14834
    2013–14[2]362100422[e]0—4223
    Total85515085416210859
    Ross County2014–15[2]Scottish Premiership30101021——3311
    2015–16[2]35152154——4220
    2016–17[2]34232140——4024
    Total994852115——11555
    Burton Albion2017–18[2]Championship1630000——163
    2018–19[2]League One37111162—1[f]04514
    2019–20[2]2582145—1[f]03314
    Total782232107—209431
    Heart of Midlothian2019–20[2]Scottish Premiership722000——92
    2020–21[2]Scottish Championship25142[g]210—002816
    2021–22[2]Scottish Premiership31105254——4116
    2022–23[2]5100002[c]0—71
    2023–24[2]15100204[h]0—211
    2024–25[2]10000104[i]0—150
    Total93289494100—12136
    Derry City2025[2]LOI Premier Division24823———2611
    Career total4341752411382018282522211
    1. ^ Includes Irish Cup, Scottish Cup, FA Cup
    2. ^ Includes Northern Ireland Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
    3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
    4. ^ a b Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup
    5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
    6. ^ a b Appearance in EFL Trophy
    7. ^ The later stages of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup were played in October and December 2020
    8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
    9. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Conference League

    International

    As of match played 30 May 2021[28]
    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Northern Ireland201140
    201530
    201610
    201721
    201870
    201940
    202061
    202110
    Total282
    Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.[2]
    International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
    No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    12 June 2017Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland9 New Zealand1–01–0Friendly
    218 November 2020Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland27 Romania1–01–12020–21 UEFA Nations League B

    Honours

    Cliftonville

    Ross County

    Hearts

    Individual

    References

    1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Burton Albion" (PDF). English Football League. p. 11. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
    2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Liam Boyce at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
    3. ^ a b c "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce on trial at Celtic". BBC Sport. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
    4. ^ "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce named player of month". BBC Sport. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
    5. ^ "Liam Boyce could be bound for German Bundesliga". BBC Sport. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
    6. ^ "Liam Boyce's proposed transfer appears to be doomed". BBC Sport. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
    7. ^ "Cliftonville Football Club » European Record".
    8. ^ "Liam Boyce agrees transfer to Werder Bremen". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
    9. ^ "Cliftonville set to beat Glentoran in battle to sign Liam Boyce". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
    10. ^ a b "Cliftonville Football Club". cliftonvillefc.net. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013.
    11. ^ a b "BBC Sport – Liam Boyce wins Football Writers Player of the Year award". BBC Sport.
    12. ^ "BBC Sport – Cliftonville withdraw Liam Boyce contract offer". BBC Sport.
    13. ^ "Cliftonville Football Club » European Record". cliftonvillefc.net.
    14. ^ "Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce agrees move to Ross County". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
    15. ^ "Boyce hat-trick in Ross County win at St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
    16. ^ a b "Liam Boyce extends contract with Ross County until 2018". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
    17. ^ "Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership: Inverness relegated". Sporting Life. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    18. ^ "Ross County have no interest in selling Liam Boyce – Jim McIntyre". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    19. ^ "BREWERS SIGN STRIKER IN RECORD-BREAKING DEAL". Burton Albion Official Site. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    20. ^ Fullteron, Gareth (1 August 2017). "Belfast Live". Liam Boyce ruled out for majority of season after rupturing anterior cruciate ligament. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
    21. ^ "Sunderland 1-2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
    22. ^ "Hearts close to Liam Boyce deal as Toby Sibbick joins on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
    23. ^ Lindsay, Clive (26 January 2020). "Heart of Midlothian 2-1 Rangers: Debutant Liam Boyce inspires defeat of title chasers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
    24. ^ "Boyce to Brandywell". 11 January 2025.
    25. ^ Reporter, Sports (28 August 2025). "Derry's Liam Boyce to miss rest of season". www.derrynow.com.
    26. ^ "NI SQUAD NAMED FOR SCOTLAND GAME". The Irish Football Association. 31 January 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
    27. ^ "International friendly: Northern Ireland 1–0 New Zealand – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
    28. ^ "Liam Boyce". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
    29. ^ Wilson, Richard (13 March 2016). "Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    30. ^ "Boyce wins PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year". Irish FA. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
    • Liam Boyce at Soccerbase
    • Profile at Irish FA
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liam_Boyce&oldid=1319960181"