2026 HJK season

Last updated

HJK
2026 season
ChairmanOlli-Pekka Lyytikäinen
Manager Joonas Rantanen
Stadium Bolt Arena
Veikkausliiga TBD
Finnish Cup TBD
League Cup TBD
UEFA Conference League TBD
Top goalscorerLeague: TBD
All: TBD
Highest home attendanceTBD
Lowest home attendanceTBD
Average home league attendanceTBD
←  2025
2027  →

The 2026 season was Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi's 118th competitive season. [1] HJK entered the Veikkausliiga season as four-time defending champions.

Contents

Season events

Pre-season

On 16 January 2026, HJK confirmed that Georgios Antzoulas, Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan and Elmo Henriksson had all left the club following the expiration of their contracts at the end of the 2025 season. [2]

HJK began preparations for the 2026 season with the Liigacup, under head coach Joonas Rantanen, who was appointed at the end of the previous season. In the opening match of the tournament on 16 January, HJK suffered a 0–1 defeat at home against IFK Mariehamn at the Talin Halli. [3]

On the same day, the club announced that Moroccan goalkeeper Issam El Maach had joined the team on a trial basis and featured in the Liigacup match against Mariehamn. [4]

Contract situation

Ahead of the 2026 season, several players remained under contract with the club, including Teemu Pukki, Alexander Ring, Daniel O'Shaughnessy, Mihailo Bogićević, Benji Michel, Lucas Lingman, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Kaius Simojoki, Eemil Toivonen, Antton Nylund, Emil Leveälahti and Toivo Mero. [5]

At the start of the season, the club indicated that further squad reinforcements could still be made, particularly in defensive positions. [6]

Squad

As of match played 18 January 2026
No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (Age)Signed fromSigned inContract endsApps.Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Jesse Öst Flag of Finland.svg GKOctober 23, 1990 (age 35) SJK 20232026 [7] 00
16 Elmo Henriksson Flag of Finland.svg GKMarch 10, 2003 (age 22) Klubi 04 20262026 [8] 00
Defenders
2 Brooklyn Lyons-Foster Flag of England.svg DFDecember 1, 2000 (age 25) Tottenham Hotspur 20242026 [9] 00
5 Daniel O'Shaughnessy Flag of Finland.svg DFSeptember 14, 1994 (age 31) Karlsruher SC 20242026 [10] 00
6 Ville Tikkanen Flag of Finland.svg DFAugust 8, 1999 (age 26) SJK 2025202600
23 Alfie Cicale Flag of England.svg DFApril 19, 2002 (age 23) VPS 20262027 [11] 00
Midfielders
4 Alexander Ring Flag of Finland.svg MFApril 9, 1991 (age 34) CF Montréal 20252026 [12] 00
10 Lucas Lingman Flag of Finland.svg MFJanuary 25, 1998 (age 27) Helsingborgs IF 20242026 [13] 00
Forwards
20 Teemu Pukki Flag of Finland.svg FWMarch 29, 1990 (age 35) Minnesota United 20252026 [14] 00
19 David Ezeh Flag of Finland.svg Flag of Nigeria.svg FWFebruary 13, 2006 (age 19) Klubi 04 20232026 [15] 00

Transfers

In

DatePos.NationalityPlayerFromFee / TypeRef
1 January 2026DF Flag of England.svg Alfie Cicale VPS Undisclosed / Permanent [16]
1 January 2026GK Flag of Finland.svg Elmo Henriksson Sporting de Gijón End of loan [17]
1 January 2026MF Flag of Finland.svg Antton Nylund Klubi 04 Promoted [18]
1 January 2026FW Flag of Finland.svg Toivo Mero Klubi 04 Promoted [19]
1 January 2026DF Flag of Finland.svg Emil Leveälahti Klubi 04 Promoted [20]

out

DatePos.NationalityPlayerToFee / TypeRef
1 January 2026CB Flag of Greece.svg Georgios Antzoulas Flag of Germany.svg FC Ingolstadt 04 Free / Permanent [21]
1 January 2026RB Flag of Finland.svg Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan Flag of Finland.svg VPS Free / Permanent [22]
1 January 2026GK Flag of Finland.svg Alex Ramula Flag of Finland.svg PK-35 Free / Permanent [23]
2 January 2026LW Flag of Finland.svg Santeri Hostikka Flag of Turkey.svg Vanspor FK Free / Permanent [24]
3 January 2026LB Flag of Finland.svg Aaro Soiniemi Flag of Finland.svg IFK Mariehamn Free / Permanent [25]
3 January 2026DF Flag of Finland.svg Michael Boamah Flag of the United States.svg Connecticut United FC Undisclosed / Permanent [26]
1 January 2026GK Flag of Brazil.svg Ricardo Friedrich Flag of Sweden.svg Malmö FF End of loan [27]

Competitions

Overall record

CompetitionFirst matchLast matchStarting roundRecord
PldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Veikkausliiga April 2026Matchday 1000000+0!—
Finnish Cup 000000+0!—
League Cup 16 January 2026Group stage100101−1000.00
UEFA Conference League July 2026First qualifying round000000+0!—
Total100101−1000.00

Last updated: 16 January 2026
Source: HJK Helsinki

Veikkausliiga

Regular season

Table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Gnistan 00000000Qualification for the Championship Round
2 HJK 00000000
3 Ilves 00000000
4 Inter Turku 00000000
5 Jaro 00000000
First match(es) will be played: April 2026. Source: Veikkausliiga
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off

Finnish Cup

2026–
EEST (UTC+3)
2026–
EEST (UTC+3)
2026–
EEST (UTC+3)

League Cup

Group Stage

16 January 20261 HJK 0–1 IFK Mariehamn Helsinki
14:00 EET (UTC+2) Report Nissinen Soccerball shade.svg54'Stadium: Tali halli TN
24 January 20262 Lahti – HJK Lahti
13:00 EET (UTC+2)Stadium: Toolpoint Arena
31 January 20263 Inter Turku – HJK Turku
12:00 EET (UTC+2)Stadium: Veritas Stadion
7 February 20264 HJK – Gnistan Helsinki
12:00 EET (UTC+2)Stadium: Tali halli TN
21 February 20265 HJK – TPS Helsinki
12:00 EET (UTC+2)Stadium: Tali halli TN

Knockout Stage

March 2026Semi-final–
March 2026Final–

UEFA Conference League

Qualifying rounds

23 July 2026Second qualifying round 1st leg–
30 July 2026Second qualifying round 2nd leg–
(– agg.)

Squad statistics

As of match played 16 January 2026

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatPlayerTotal Veikkausliiga Finnish Cup League Cup Europe
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Jesse Öst 0000000000
2 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Brooklyn Lyons-Foster 0000000000
4 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Alexander Ring 0000000000
5 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Daniel O'Shaughnessy 0000000000
6 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Ville Tikkanen 0000000000
9 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Ardit Tahiri 0000000000
10 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Lucas Lingman 0000000000
13 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Kaius Simojoki 0000000000
15 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Jere Kallinen 0000000000
16 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Elmo Henriksson 0000000000
18 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Aaro Soiniemi 0000000000
19 FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN David Ezeh 0000000000
20 FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Teemu Pukki 0000000000
21 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Pyry Mentu 0000000000
22 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Liam Möller 0000000000
28 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Miska Ylitolva 0000000000
30 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Alex Ramula 0000000000
31 DF Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB Mihailo Bogićević 0000000000
32 GK Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Ricardo Friedrich 0000000000
41 MF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Yukiyoshi Karashima 0000000000
91 FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Ville Vuorinen0000000000
95 FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Stanislav Baranov 0000000000
97 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Toivo Mero 0000000000
98 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Alex Lietsa0000000000
99 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Benji Michel 0000000000

Goal scorers

PlacePositionNationNumberName Veikkausliiga Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
Own goal 00000
TOTALS00000

Clean sheets

PlacePositionNationNumberName Veikkausliiga Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1GK00000
2GK00000
3GK00000
TOTALS00000

Disciplinary record

NumberNationPositionName Veikkausliiga Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
Yellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svg
10000000000
20000000000
30000000000
40000000000
50000000000
Players from Klubi-04:
0000000000
Players away on loan:
Players who left HJK during the season:
TOTALS0000000000

References

  1. ↑ "Finland – List of League First Level Tables". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Talvikausi 2026 pyörähti käyntiin – meillä on kaikilla näytettävää". hjk.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 16 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Otteluraportti: HJK – IFK Mariehamn 0–1". hjk.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 16 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Maalivahti Issam El Maach testijaksolla Klubissa". hjk.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 16 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Talvikausi 2026 pyörähti käyntiin – meillä on kaikilla näytettävää". hjk.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 16 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Talvikausi 2026 pyörähti käyntiin – meillä on kaikilla näytettävää". hjk.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 16 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Jesse Öst jatkaa Klubissa". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Elmo Henriksson ja HJK jatkosopimukseen". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Brooklyn Lyons-Foster HJK-paitaan". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Daniel O'Shaughnessy palaa kotiin". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "HJK ja Alfie Cicale sopimukseen". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Alexander Ring palaa Klubiin". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Lucas Lingman jatkaa Klubissa pitkällä sopimuksella". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Teemu Pukki palaa kotiin". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "David Ezeh jatkosopimukseen". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Alfie Cicale siirtyy HJK:hon". HJK Helsinki. 15 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Elmo Henriksson palaa Klubiin". HJK Helsinki. 1 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "HJK kiinnitti nuoria lupauksia". HJK Helsinki. 30 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Toivo Mero nousee edustusjoukkueeseen". HJK Helsinki. 15 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "HJK-nuorille jatkosopimuksia". HJK Helsinki. 20 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Erster Winter-Neuzugang: FC Ingolstadt 04 verpflichtet Georgios Antzoulas". FC Ingolstadt 04. 22 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "Tervetuloa Raitaan Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan!". Vaasan Palloseura. 14 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "Kiitos, Rampe! Alex Ramula siirtyy HJK:sta PK-35:een". HJK Helsinki. 19 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Santeri Hostikka jättää HJK:n - "Vuodet Klubissa ovat olleet minulle ikimuistoisia"". Veikkausliiga. 2 January 2026.
  25. ↑ "Aaro Soiniemi siirtyy IFK Mariehamniin". HJK Helsinki. 3 January 2026.
  26. ↑ "Michael Boamah siirtyy Yhdysvaltoihin". HJK Helsinki. 3 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "HJK ja Malmö FF sopimukseen Ricardo Friedrichin lainasta" (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 25 July 2025.

{{ 2026 in Finnish football }}

2026 HJK

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