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Topi Keskinen

Topi Keskinen
Keskinen with Finland U21 in June 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Espoo, Finland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Aberdeen
Number 81
Youth career
–2020 MP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 MP 68 (13)
2020 → SavU (loan) 3 (0)
2023–2024 HJK 42 (8)
2024– Aberdeen 19 (4)
International career‡
2022 Finland U19 2 (1)
2022– Finland U21 10 (2)
2024– Finland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Topi Keskinen (born 7 March 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and for the Finland national team. Keskinen is known for his pace, dribbling and agility with the ball.[1]

Early life

Keskinen was born in Espoo, but soon after at his early age his family moved to Mikkeli in Eastern Finland. He started to play football in the youth sector of the local club Mikkelin Palloilijat (MP).

Club career

MP

He made his senior debut with MP first team in 2019, when the club played in third-tier level Kakkonen. The club won a promotion, and Keskinen signed a three-year deal with MP.[2] He was named in the first team squad for the 2020 Ykkönen season, in Finland's second tier. In 2020, he also played briefly for the associate farm club Savilahden Urheilijat [fi] (SavU) in the fourth tier Kolmonen.[3][4][5]

He finished the 2022 Ykkönen season scoring 10 goals and providing six assists for his team in the division.[6]

HJK

Keskinen signed a three-year deal with Finnish champions HJK Helsinki on 23 November 2022, ahead of the 2023 Veikkausliiga season.[7][8] On 8 February 2023, Keskinen scored four goals in his second competitive game for the club, in a 5–2 Finnish League Cup win over FC Lahti.[9][10][11] The club ultimately won the league cup tournament.

He scored his first Veikkausliiga goal on 5 May 2023, in 2–1 away loss to KuPS.[12] Keskinen also scored the winning goal, as HJK defeated Molde FK 1–0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round, on 25 July 2023.[13] He played in all 14 matches in the HJK's 2023–24 European campaign, in which HJK qualified to the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.[14][15]

In the end of the 2023 season, Keskinen won his first Finnish championship title with HJK, which was the fourth championship of HJK in a row. He was named The Player of the Year by the supporters of the club, and the Rookie of the Year in Veikkausliiga.[16] Keskinen finished his first season in the league scoring twice and providing eight assists in 25 matches.[17]

Keskinen started the 2024 season efficiently scoring four goals and providing one assist in the first four matches of the season,[18] for which he was awarded the league’s Player of the Month title in April 2024.

Aberdeen

On 12 August 2024, Keskinen moved to Scotland and signed a four-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen[19] for a transfer fee of €1 million,[20][21] making him the second most expensive signing in Aberdeen's history.[22][23] HJK also secured a sell-on clause in the transfer deal.[24] Keskinen scored in his Aberdeen debut as a subtitute on 17 August 2024, by a winning goal on a stoppage-time in a 1–0 Scottish League Cup win against Queen's Park.[25][26] On 28 September, he scored his first goal in Scottish Premiership, a winning goal in a 2–1 away win against Dundee, providing also an assist to the first goal.[27] Three days later, Keskinen received his first SPFL Team of the Week selection.[28][29] Next round on 6 October, Keskinen scored his second goal in the league, and provided an assist for his team's second goal, in a 3–2 home win over Hearts.[30]

International career

Youth

In March 2022, Keskinen was callep up to Finland youth national team for the first time, when he was named in the Finland U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification Elite round games against Belgium, Italy and Germany. He made his youth national team debut on 23 March 2022 against Belgium, scoring a goal in the game.[31]

He made his first appearance for the Finland under-21 national team on 7 June 2022, in a 3–0 home win against Azerbaijan, providing an assist in the game.[32] On 21 November 2023, Keskinen scored a brace for Finland U21 team, in a 6–0 home win against Armenia.[33][34] Keskinen made five appearances in total in the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign, helping Finland U21 to qualify for the final tournament, for the second time in the nation's history.

Senior

On 28 August 2024, Keskinen received his first call-up to Finland senior national team by head coach Markku Kanerva, for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B matches against Greece and England in September.[35] He debuted on 7 September 2024 against Greece at the Karaiskakis Stadium. He substituted Oliver Antman in the 62nd minute as Greece won 3–0.[36]

Personal life

Keskinen is a devoted Manchester United supporter, and has named Wayne Rooney his idol in football. During his free time, Keskinen is an avid fisherman; he has a tattoo of Rooney fishing on his forearm.[37]

Career statistics

Club

As of 5 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MP 2019 Kakkonen 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2020 Ykkönen 19 0 2 0 — — 21 0
2021 Ykkönen 24 3 3 0 — — 27 3
2022 Ykkönen 24 10 3 2 3 0 — 30 12
Total 68 13 8 2 3 0 0 0 79 15
SavU (loan) 2020 Kolmonen 3 0 — — — 3 0
HJK 2023 Veikkausliiga 25 2 1 0 4 4 14[c] 1 44 7
2024 Veikkausliiga 17 6 1 0 3 1 2[d] 0 23 7
Total 42 8 2 0 7 5 16 1 67 14
Aberdeen 2024–25 Scottish Premiership 19 4 0 0 3 1 – 22 5
Career total 132 25 10 2 13 6 16 1 171 34
  1. ^ Includes Suomen Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Ykkönen Cup, Finnish League Cup and Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 13 October 2024[38]
Finland
Year Apps Goals
2024 4 0
Total 4 0

Honours

HJK

Individual

  • Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2023[39]
  • Veikkausliiga Rookie of the Year: 2023[40]
  • Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: April 2024[41]

References

  1. ^ "Topi Keskinen ei tiennyt Helsingissä, mistä ovesta pitää mennä sisään, mutta nyt hänelle ovat avautumassa kaikki ovet". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 30 November 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  2. ^ "EDUSTUS: MP kiinnitti nuorta voimaa - Keskinen ja Ylönen kolmen vuoden sopimuksiin". Mikkelin Palloilijat (in Finnish). 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ "EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen itäisen alueen vuoden poikapelaaja 2020". Mikkelin Palloilijat (in Finnish). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  4. ^ "EDUSTUS: Läpimurto". Mikkelin Palloilijat (in Finnish). 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ "EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen - MP:n luottopelaaja". Mikkelin Palloilijat (in Finnish). 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  6. ^ EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen MP:n kauden paras Archived 18 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine, mikkelinpalloilijat.fi
  7. ^ "Topi Keskinen HJK:hon kolmen vuoden sopimuksella". HJK (in Finnish). Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. ^ "EDUSTUS: Kiitos #18 Topi!!". Mikkelin Palloilijat (in Finnish). 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ^ "HJK - FC Lahti 08-02-2023". HJK Helsinki. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Topi Keskinen: Tiesin kyllä, että tulen pärjäämään liigassa". Finnish FA (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ^ Palomäki, Janne (5 April 2023). "20-vuotias Topi Keskinen sai todellisen unelmadebyytin HJK-paidassa: "Se oli ihan jees"" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Veikkausliiga". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  13. ^ Miettinen, Heikki (25 July 2023). "HJK:lle tärkeä voitto Moldesta" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  14. ^ "HJK-sensaatio Topi Keskinen olisi jo voinut siirtyä ulkomaille, mutta jäi Suomeen – puhuu nyt suoraan tulevaisuudestaan". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 1 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Topi Keskinen hankki aarteen europelistä: "Se oli minun Fifa-veskani"". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Topi Keskiselle vuoden pelaajan palkinto". Fan Club Forza HJK ry (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Topi Keskiseltä kauden upein maali, Joona Toiviolle uran ensimmäinen Veikkausliigassa – HJK vahvasti kiinni mestaruudessa". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Huhtikuun joukkue valittu - HJK:n Topi Keskinen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Dons make Topi signing". Aberdeen F.C. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  20. ^ "MTV Urheilun tiedot: HJK-tähti hylkäsi MLS:n – siirtyy isolla rahalla Skotlantiin". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 9 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  21. ^ Huuhkajien Topi Keskinen valitsi Skotlannin pelin takia – ”Raha ei ole tässä iässä mikään pääasia”, Helsingin Sanomat, 3 September 2024
  22. ^ No pressure message to £860,000 signing Topi Keskinen from Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin, pressandjournal.co.uk, 19 August 2024
  23. ^ Evans, Anthony (9 August 2024). "Topi Keskinen transfer fee disclosed as Aberdeen fend off MLS interest". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  24. ^ Mäntylä, Pekka (12 August 2024). "Topi Keskinen siirtyy Aberdeeniin". HJK Helsinki (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  25. ^ Britton, Ruaraidh (17 August 2024). "Aberdeen 1 Queen's Park 0 as Keskinen scores late winner on debut in League Cup victory". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Topi Keskisellä satumainen debyytti Skotlannissa". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 17 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  27. ^ Topi Keskinen iski voittomaalin ja nosti Aberdeenin Skotlannin liigan kärkeen, Yle, 28 September 2024
  28. ^ TEAM OF THE WEEK, spfl.co.uk, 1 October 2024
  29. ^ Topi Keskinen valittiin viikon joukkueeseen, Yle, 2 October 2024
  30. ^ Topi Keskinen jatkoi maalitehtailuaan Skotlannissa – Simo Valakarilla illalla debyytti Ibroxilla, Yle, 6 October 2024
  31. ^ "Finland U19 vs. Belgium U19 - 23 March 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Finland U21 vs. Azerbaijan U21 - 7 June 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Huuhkajista rannalle jätetyt nuoret näyttivät taitojaan murskavoitossa – Topi Keskiseltä unelmamaali: "Herranpieksut!"". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Pikkuhuuhkajille huima murskavoitto – Topi Keskinen täräytti häikäisevän osuman". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  35. ^ Adam Ståhl ja Topi Keskinen Huuhkajiin – tässä Markku Kanervan valinnat Kansojen liigan avaukseen, Yle, 28 August 2024
  36. ^ "Greece v Finland game report". ESPN. 7 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Suomen nuoren lupauksen tatuointi hämmentää – Sai faneilta härskin lempinimen hurjan maalijuhlan myötä". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  38. ^ Topi Keskinen at National-Football-Teams.com
  39. ^ "Toimittajat äänestivät: Tässä on Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  40. ^ "Captain's Ball 2023 Kaj Natrille – Katso kaikki palkitut". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  41. ^ Veikkaus. "Veikkausuutiset". Veikkaus.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
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