Bringing rising international star Milly Clegg to the Halifax Tides: Inside the Northern Super League’s first-ever loan deal
The first loan deal in Northern Super League (NSL) history came about relatively quickly, a tidy affair in the otherwise wide and messy world of football.
Many negotiations can span months, if not years. But in the case of 19-year old New Zealand international Milly Clegg, who has already made a name for herself with appearances at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, all the pieces came together to bring her to the Halifax Tides with the power and suddenness of a rogue wave.
Clegg originally signed a three-year contract for the National Women’s Soccer League (NSWL) side Racing Louisville FC in January, 2024. However, between rehabbing from an injury and international duty, including time at the Paris Olympics, the young forward made only one appearance for Racing during her first year for the club.
Given her lack of minutes, a conversation between Clegg, her representation at A&V Sports — which boasts several high profile Canadian players on their roster — and Racing’s leadership ensued at the beginning of the off-season. The consensus was, as a young player, she needed more match time to develop.
Enter the Halifax Tides, who like the rest of the NSL, have been busy building their squad from the ground up.
Sporting director Amit Batra says the Tides weren’t initially looking at Clegg given she was under contract with Racing but were aware of her quality and potential given her international resume.
However, that all changed in early January as the Tides were still looking for an attacker. Clubs have several avenues to go about filling a need, be it through their scouting network, personal relationships or expressions of interest from players themselves. Working directly with agencies is another option; agents often either reach out to clubs to talk about their needs or peddle players they think may be of interest. One such conversation piqued the Tides' interest in Clegg.
“They’re really not on your radar until someone puts them on your radar,” Batra explains of players under contract in an interview with The Wanderers Notebook.
“The agent creates the connection in that situation (with Milly). It was more putting all the parties together to have that conversation and then I think (Racing Louisville) need to know how we can help develop this player.”
The NSL has yet to officially kick a ball but Batra says the quality of players signing in the league has caught the attention of the footballing world, making arguments for loaning a player to a club like the Tides much more appealing.
“As we’re getting closer and closer to kickoff now, I think, the level of player coming into the league, the talent in Canada and the legitimacy of it are all sort of coming together. There’s confidence out there for more established clubs like Racing Louisville to loan a player out and feel confident,” he says.
From Racing Louisville’s perspective, loaning Clegg out — who will still be under contract for another year following the expiration of her loan on December 31, 2025 — was all about finding the right situation for a young player to flourish.
“(Milly) has a very bright future,” says Racing head coach Beverly Yanez in an interview with The Wanderers Notebook. “She wants to work hard, she wants to improve in so many areas of her game and she’s so willing. Obviously, with the loan, I think for us the biggest pieces were how to get her more game time and to continue to develop at such a young age and stressing the importance of what that game time can do for her overall development.”
As conversations between the Tides and Racing heated up in early January, Yanez stresses the club wanted to make sure the player was comfortable with the situation. They set up a call with Clegg, who was in New Zealand during the off-season, and the Tides so the two sides could become acquainted with one another. And afterwards, with all parties feeling comfortable, the deal was signed, officially becoming the first-ever loan deal in NSL history.
The whole process, from beginning to end, took two weeks.
Yanez says she communicated with Clegg once things were official and plans to have several touch points throughout the season to monitor the young attacker’s progress with the Tides.
Overall, she says Halifax is getting an exciting player with a nose for the net.
“She’s shooting as much and as often as possible,” says Yanez.
And given the slower international schedule, not to mention her fitness, Batra says he’s hopeful Clegg will be able to find her place within head coach Lewis Page’s system.
“It’s a year where she still has international friendlies but it’s not as congested a schedule for her so this is maybe a chance for her to get some momentum and some confidence and, for us as a fledgling league and a startup team, also to bring something exciting to the fans,” he says.
Given her skillset, it wouldn’t surprise anyone involved if the first loan deal in NSL history turns out swimmingly for the Tides.
Cover Photo Credit: Connor Cunningham / Racing Louisville FC
