Johannes Yli-Kokko

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Johannes Yli-Kokko
Personal information
Full name Johannes Waltteri Yli-Kokko [1]
Date of birth (2001-08-24) 24 August 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Espoo, Finland
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Inter Turku
Number 8
Youth career
Kasiysi [2]
–2015 Espoo
2015–2021 HJK
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2022 Klubi 04 30 (6)
2022–2024 HJK 21 (1)
2023Dundalk (loan) 28 (3)
2024– Inter Turku 23 (1)
2024– Inter Turku II 1 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:21, 27 July 2025 (UTC)

Johannes Waltteri Yli-Kokko (born 24 August 2001) is a Finnish footballer who plays for Veikkausliiga club Inter Turku.

Contents

Career

HJK Helsinki

Yli-Kokko came through the youth academy and reserve team of HJK Helsinki, Klubi 04, before making his debut for the Veikkausliiga side in the 2022 season. Yli-Kokko made 17 appearances for the Helsinki club in his first season of senior football, which included a stunning debut goal against VPS [3] He also made appearances during HJK Helsinki's 2022–23 UEFA Champions League. [4] Following several good performances in the league and continental competition, Yli-Kokko was rewarded with a two-year contract extension to the end of 2024.

2023; Dundalk (loan)

In January 2023, shortly after signing his extension with HJK, it was announced that Yli-Kokko has been loaned to League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk until the summer. His loan was later extended until the end of 2023. [5] [6] On 25 October 2023, Dundalk announced that Yli-Kokko had returned to HJK three games prior to season ending due to a minor injury. [7]

Inter Turku

On 18 July 2024, Yli-Kokko joined fellow Veikkausliiga club Inter Turku on a deal until the end of the season, with an option for two more. [8]

Style of play

Yli-Kokko is an attacking midfield player with expansive and creative style of counter-attacking transition. He is noted for being able to take play from the center of the park and push opposition players and defenders out wide allowing strikers and supporting players to move into central attacking arrears around the penalty box. [9]

Career statistics

As of 31 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] League cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Klubi 04 2019 Kakkonen 184001 [b] 0194
2020 Kakkonen20003 [b] 151
2021 Ykkönen 921000102
2022Kakkonen10000010
Total306104100357
HJK 2022 Veikkausliiga 171223 [c] 14 [d] 0264
2023 Veikkausliiga00001 [c] 00010
2024 Veikkausliiga4020000060
Total211424140334
Dundalk (loan) 2023 LOI Premier Division 283304 [e] 0353
Inter Turku II 2024 Kakkonen1111
Inter Turku 2024 Veikkausliiga111111
2025 Veikkausliiga00007272
Total111007200182
Career total9112821648012118
  1. Includes Suomen Cup and Irish FAI Cup
  2. 1 2 Includes Kakkonen Cup
  3. 1 2 Includes Finnish League Cup
  4. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Inter Turku

HJK Helsinki

References

  1. Karkaamisesta tuomittu Onni Valakari valittiin Urheilukouluun, Helsingin Sanomat, 26 May 2025
  2. Johannes Yli-Kokko, player profile, hjk.fi
  3. Moilanen, Mika (16 July 2022). "Johannes Yli-Kokko fired the kick-off for HJK's victory over VPS – Malik Abubakari scored in his debut" (in Finnish). Helsigin Sanomat. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. Corrigan, Colin (21 February 2023). "Finnish arrival as Dundalk add another loan signing to their ranks". LM FM. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. "HJK lends Johannes Yli-Kokon, 21, to Ireland". mtvuutiset. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  6. Yli-Kokko roihuaa Irlannissa – Louth Derby sytyttää läänin, Iltalehti, 23 June 2023
  7. YLI-KOKKO RETURNS TO FINLAND dundalkfc.com, 25 October 2023
  8. Johannes Yli-Kokko vahvistamaan Interin keskikenttää, fcinter.fi, 18 July 2024
  9. O'Connor, Sean (21 February 2023). "Dundalk swoop to sign Johannes Yli-Kokko on loan from Finnish champions HJK Helsinki". Independent.Ie. Retrieved 5 May 2023.