Junior Hoilett

2.1. Loan Spells in Germany

Hoilett eventually agreed to a loan move to Germany, joining SC Paderborn 07 of the 2. Bundesliga. He made his senior debut for the club at 17 years old, coming on as a substitute for Sven Lintjens in a 3-2 victory against Kickers Offenbach on February 3, 2008. His first appearance in the starting eleven occurred on March 9, 2008, against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Hoilett scored his only goal during this loan spell on May 18, 2008, against Borussia Mönchengladbach, which was also his final game for the club. Paderborn concluded the 2007-08 2. Bundesliga season in 17th position and was subsequently relegated. Overall, he made 12 appearances and scored 1 goal for SC Paderborn.

For the 2008-09 2. Bundesliga season, Hoilett was loaned to another German club, FC St. Pauli. He made his debut for the Hamburg-based side against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on August 22, 2008. During his time with St. Pauli, he scored six goals, including braces against Alemannia Aachen and F.C. Hansa Rostock, and individual goals against TSV 1860 Munich and 1. FC Kaiserslautern. His final game for the club was a 1-0 loss against Rot Weiss Ahlen on May 3, 2009. St. Pauli finished the season in eighth place. He concluded his loan at St. Pauli with 21 appearances and 6 goals.

2.2. Blackburn Rovers

In January 2009, Blackburn Rovers reapplied for Hoilett to receive a work permit to allow him to play football in England. By the summer of 2009, his work permit was granted on appeal, enabling him to continue his burgeoning career at the Premier League level with Blackburn. The club opted not to send him out for a third loan spell in Germany, rejecting an approach from 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Hoilett made his debut for Blackburn on the opening day of the 2009-10 season, coming on as a late substitute for El Hadji Diouf in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on August 15, 2009. He was named in the starting lineup for the team's next match and scored his first competitive goal for Rovers in a 3-1 League Cup victory over Gillingham on August 25, 2009. His impressive performances in the early stages of the campaign prompted the club to open talks regarding a contract extension, as he was in the final year of his original deal. On February 25, 2010, Hoilett ended speculation about his future by signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at Blackburn until the summer of 2012. He concluded the season with 27 appearances across all competitions, scoring once.

Hoilett played a pivotal role in Blackburn's dramatic League Cup victory against Chelsea on December 2, 2009. Coming on as a second-half substitute, he earned a stoppage-time penalty, which Benni McCarthy converted to put Rovers ahead 3-2. Despite a late equalizer by Paulo Ferreira in the 122nd minute, Hoilett converted the fifth penalty in the shootout, contributing to a 4-3 win that secured Blackburn's place in the semi-finals. He made his first league start on December 12 against Hull City, playing the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw at the KC Stadium.

He made his first Premier League appearance of the 2010-11 season on August 21, 2010, coming on for Nikola Kalinić in a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City. Hoilett scored his first goal of the 2010-11 season in a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round. His first league goal came on January 23, 2011, in a 2-0 home win against West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park, converting a Nikola Kalinić assist. On February 12, 2011, he made his fortieth Premier League appearance for Blackburn in a goalless draw against Newcastle United, though he was replaced at halftime due to a slight hamstring strain. On March 5, he scored his third goal of the season in a 3-2 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Hoilett's next goal was a late equalizer from a header against Blackpool in a 2-2 home draw. On April 9, 2011, he scored in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City but was unfortunately injured in the 68th minute. His fifth league goal of the campaign was an individual effort in a 3-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on the final day of the season.

On September 11, 2011, during a match between Blackburn and Fulham, Hoilett was involved in a collision with Mark Schwarzer that resulted in a head injury, requiring him to be stretchered off. Hoilett also scored Blackburn's controversial second goal in their 3-3 draw with Wigan Athletic, where his teammate Morten Gamst Pedersen appeared to dribble the ball directly from a corner before delivering a low cross for Hoilett to head in from close range. In January 2012, Hoilett was recognized by FIFA as one of thirteen players to watch in 2012. In the 2011-12 season, Hoilett notably led all Premier League players in dribbles per game.

2.3. Queens Park Rangers

After declining a contract renewal with Blackburn Rovers, Hoilett joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on July 27, 2012. The transfer fee was determined by a tribunal, and Hoilett signed a four-year contract with the club. He scored his first goal for QPR in a 2-3 League Cup defeat to Reading on September 26, 2012. On March 2, 2013, Hoilett provided an assist for teammate Loïc Rémy and played a crucial role in QPR's 2-1 victory over Southampton. However, a combination of injuries and inconsistent form led to a frustrating first season for Hoilett at QPR, which ultimately resulted in the club's relegation to the Championship.

Hoilett scored his first goal of the 2013-14 Championship season in a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town on August 10, 2013. Four months later, he netted his second goal of the season in a comfortable 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth at Loftus Road. In QPR's 1-0 victory over Derby County at Wembley Stadium in the Championship play-off final, Hoilett provided the assist for the solitary goal of the game, crossing for Bobby Zamora to score in the 89th minute. This win secured QPR's promotion back to the Premier League after a single season absence. After failing to agree to a new contract with QPR at the end of the 2015-16 season, Hoilett left the club following the expiration of his deal.

2.4. Cardiff City

Following the appointment of Neil Warnock as manager, Hoilett signed with Cardiff City on October 6, 2016, becoming Warnock's first signing at the club. His debut came on October 14, against Severnside rivals Bristol City. Hoilett scored his first goal for Cardiff during a 3-2 victory over Huddersfield Town on November 19, 2016. He scored one more goal before signing a one-year contract extension in May 2017.

The 2017-18 season proved to be Hoilett's most productive campaign, as he finished the season with twelve goals, including one against his former club Queens Park Rangers and a brace against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup. Cardiff finished second in the Championship, securing promotion to the Premier League. Following the club's promotion, Hoilett was offered a new contract. On June 26, 2018, he signed a three-year contract, committing his future to the Welsh capital club. He scored his first Premier League goal since 2012 in a 2-1 comeback win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 30, which BBC Sport described as a "fabulous first-time effort from 25 yards."

On May 9, 2021, Hoilett announced his departure from Cardiff City at the end of his contract via Instagram. He spent five years with the club, accumulating 184 appearances across all competitions. His final appearance for Cardiff came on January 27, 2021, against Barnsley, which was the first game in charge for new manager Mick McCarthy. He did not feature in any subsequent matches for the remainder of that season.

2.5. Reading

On August 19, 2021, Hoilett signed a one-year contract with Reading. His first goal for the club came on October 2 at the Cardiff City Stadium, proving to be the only goal in a 1-0 victory over his former club, Cardiff City.

In July 2022, Hoilett re-signed with Reading on another one-year deal. During the 2022-23 season, he began featuring more prominently at wing-back for the club, earning praise for his performances from coach Paul Ince, who heralded him as "unplayable." Despite being offered a new contract, he departed the club after their relegation at the end of the season.

2.6. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On September 14, 2023, Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had reached a deal with Hoilett for him to join the club for the remainder of the 2023 MLS season. He made his debut on September 20, entering the match as a second-half substitute for Ryan Raposo in a 4-1 defeat to Houston Dynamo. At the end of the 2023 season, the club announced that his contract would not be renewed.

2.7. Aberdeen

On February 16, 2024, Junior Hoilett signed a short-term deal with Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen until the end of the 2023-24 season, reuniting with his former manager Neil Warnock. He made his debut the following day against Hibernian, coming on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw. This appearance made him the first Canadian player to ever play for Aberdeen. On July 30, despite being offered a new deal, he announced his departure from the club, stating his time at Aberdeen had come to an end and thanking the club for the opportunity and the fans for making his short spell memorable.

2.8. Hibernian

On August 6, 2024, Hoilett joined Hibernian on a one-year deal, marking his continued presence in the Scottish Premiership.

3.1. Youth International Appearances

As a young player, Hoilett demonstrated his leadership and talent by captaining the Canadian team in the 2001 Danone Nations Cup in Paris. This early experience provided him with exposure to international competition and development at a foundational level.

3.2. Senior National Team Debut and Major Tournaments

Hoilett was eligible to play for either Canada or Jamaica at the senior international level due to his parents' Jamaican descent. In February 2011, he rejected a call-up from the Canada national team, stating that he wished to focus on developing his club career before committing to international football. In January 2012, Jamaica Football Federation president Horace Burrell confirmed that he had approached Hoilett's father about him representing Jamaica, with his father reportedly keen on the idea. In March 2012, Hoilett also indicated to various media outlets that he would consider playing for England if he were eligible.

Hoilett officially declared his commitment to play for Canada in September 2015, prior to the fourth round of CONCACAF 2018 World Cup Qualifying. He earned his first international cap on October 13, 2015, in a 1-1 draw against Ghana at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. He was officially cap-tied to Canada after starting for the nation in a 2018 World Cup qualification match against Honduras.

Hoilett was named to Canada's squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 27, 2017. He scored his first international goal in the quarter-finals of that tournament on July 20, in a 1-2 defeat to eventual finalists Jamaica.

He was included in the final 23-man squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup on May 20, 2019. Hoilett scored in victories over Martinique and Cuba, with both wins setting new records for the country's biggest margin of victory in the competition, as the Canadians advanced to the quarter-finals. Hoilett was named Canada's captain for the first time in a CONCACAF Nations League match against Cuba on September 7, 2019. In that game, he scored three goals in a dominant 6-0 victory, becoming the third Canadian player in 2019 to net a hat-trick against Cuba, following Jonathan David and Lucas Cavallini.

Hoilett was called up to Canada's squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 1. He scored in a 4-1 group stage win over Haiti and a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Costa Rica, helping the team reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2007.

On March 27, 2022, Hoilett scored the third goal as Canada defeated Jamaica 4-0 in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, thereby securing their place in the World Cup for the first time since the 1986 tournament. In November 2022, Hoilett was named to Canada's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He appeared in all three of Canada's group stage matches before the team's exit from the tournament.

In June 2023, Hoilett was named to Canada's squad competing in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. On June 19, he was also included in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad, where he scored a goal against Cuba on July 4, contributing to a 4-2 victory. He also scored against Japan in a friendly on October 13, 2023, in a 1-4 loss.

In June 2024, Hoilett was initially named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a lower-body injury sustained during a training camp, being replaced by Joel Waterman. On November 15, 2024, he scored a goal in a 1-0 win against Suriname in the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League A.

4.1. Club Statistics

4.2. International Statistics

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hoilett goal.