Leo Walta

Last updated
Leo Walta
Personal information
Full name Leo Walta
Date of birth (2003-06-24) 24 June 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Vantaa, Finland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sirius
Number 14
Youth career
Pakkalan Palloseura
0000–2019 HJK
2019–2021 Nordsjælland
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019 Klubi 04 6 (0)
2021–2024 Nordsjælland 19 (0)
2023HB Køge (loan) 14 (3)
2023Mjällby (loan) 11 (2)
2024– Sirius 29 (7)
International career
2018 Finland U15
2019 Finland U16 3 (1)
2019–2020 Finland U17 12 (3)
2022 Finland U19 3 (0)
2021– Finland U21 10 (1)
2024– Finland 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 October 2024

Leo Walta (born 24 June 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Allsvenskan side Sirius and the Finland national team.

Contents

Club career

HJK Helsinki

Walta started at HJK Helsinki when he was eight years old. [1] Walta was a very attractive player during his youth years at HJK, where it led to several trials in, among others, German clubs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich, and also at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. [2] However, he couldn't move abroad until he was 16 years old, according to FIFA rules.

Therefore, he stayed at HJK and at the age of 15 in May 2019, started playing for HJK's reserve team, Klubi 04, in the Finnish third division, Kakkonen. [3]

FC Nordsjælland

In September 2019 it was announced, that FC Nordsjælland had bought 16-year old Walta from HJK Helsinki for "a significant transfer amount". [1] In his first season at the club, he mostly played for the U-17 team, but also made seven appearances and scored two goals for the U-19s, while he also made his reserve team debut in November 2019.

In the 2020–21 season, Walta became a key player for Nordsjælland's U19s, where he played 23 league games and scored six goals. At the end of the season, on 14 July 2021, Nordsjælland confirmed, that Walta had signed a new deal with the club and had been promoted to the first team squad. [4] Four days later, on 18 July 2021, Walta got his professional debut for Nordsjælland against Viborg FF in the Danish Superliga. [5]

HB Køge (loan)

On transfer deadline day, 31 January 2023, HB Køge confirmed that Walta had joined the club on a loan deal for the remainder of the season. [6]

Mjällby AIF (loan)

After returning to Nordsjælland, he was sent out on loan again, this time to Allsvenskan club Mjällby AIF until the end of the 2023 season. [7] On 18 September 2023, Walta scored his first goals in Allsvenskan by a brace against IFK Norrköping away, helping his side to take a 2–0 win. [8] [9] After the season, Mjällby were interested in signing with Walta on a permanent contract, but Nordsjælland's asking price of €1.3 million was too high for them. It was also reported that there were several interested clubs in Eredivisie. [10]

IK Sirius

On 8 March 2024, Walta joined Allsvenskan side Sirius on a deal until 30 June 2028 for an undisclosed fee, reported to be €1.25 million. [11] [12] During his first season with Sirius, Walta made 29 appearances in Allsvenskan scoring seven goals and providing three assists. [13]

International career

Walta is a regular youth international, and has represented Finland at various youth national team levels.

On 4 June 2024, Walta made his senior national team debut for Finland, in a 4–2 friendly defeat against Portugal. [14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 November 2024 [15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Klubi 04 2019 Kakkonen 600060
Nordsjælland 2021–22 Danish Superliga 14020160
2022–23 Danish Superliga502070
Total190400000230
HB Køge (loan) 2022–23 Danish 1st Division 14300143
Mjällby (loan) 2023 Allsvenskan 11210122
Sirius 2024 Allsvenskan29710307
Career total79126000008512

International

As of match played 13 October 2024
Finland
YearAppsGoals
202460
Total60

Honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simo Valakari</span> Finnish footballer and coach (born 1973)

Simo Johannes Valakari is a Finnish football manager and a former international football player. He is currently the manager of Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarkko Wiss</span> Finnish footballer and manager (born 1972)

Jarkko Wiss is a Finnish football manager and a former international footballer, who will serve as the manager of Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vesa Vasara</span> Finnish football manager and former player (born 1976)

Vesa-Pekka Vasara is a Finnish professional football manager for Veikkausliiga club Inter Turku, and a former player who played for the Veikkausliiga sides HJK Helsinki, FC Jokerit, FF Jaro, and FC Honka, as well as for Kalmar FF in Sweden. He was also capped 12 times for the Finland national team, scoring twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaan Kairinen</span> Finnish footballer (born 1998)

Kasper Kaan Kairinen is a Finnish professional footballer, who plays as a central midfielder for Czech First League club Sparta Prague and the Finland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carljohan Eriksson</span> Finnish footballer (born 1995)

Carljohan Daniel Viktor Eriksson is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eliteserien club Sarpsborg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Lingman</span> Finnish footballer (born 1998)

Lucas Lingman is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for HJK.

Timo Stavitski is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Allsvenskan club Mjällby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santeri Haarala</span> Finnish footballer (born 1999)

Santeri Haarala is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Allsvenskan club Djurgården.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miro Tenho</span> Finnish footballer (born 1995)

Miro Tenho is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Allsvenskan team Djurgården and the Finland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onni Valakari</span> Finnish footballer (born 1999)

Onni Johannes Simonpoika Valakari is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Allsvenskan club AIK, on loan from Pafos.

Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Veikkausliiga club HJK.

Maksim Stjopin is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Veikkausliiga club Ilves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah Pallas</span> Finnish footballer (born 2001)

Noah Pallas is a Finnish professional football player who plays as a left back for Veikkausliiga club HJK and the Finland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topi Keskinen</span> Finnish footballer (born 2003)

Topi Keskinen 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.

Roni Hudd is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki and the Finland under-21 national team.

Akseli Puukko is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for U20 team of Serie A club Bologna, and the Finland U19 national team.

Terry Yegbe is a Ghanaian professional football defender for Swedish Allsvenskan club IF Elfsborg.

Mohammad Al-Emara is a Finnish FIFA-listed football referee. He has been named the Veikkausliiga Referee of the Year in six consecutive seasons (2018–2023), voted by the league players. Currently Al-Emara resides in Helsinki.

Jasper Jalonen is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ykkösliiga club Salon Palloilijat (SalPa).

References

  1. 1 2 FC Nordsjælland handler: Henter finsk teenager for "betydeligt beløb", tipsbladet.dk, 2 September 2019
  2. Flere storklubber interesseret i 14-årig Allan Simonsen-type, tv3sport.dk, 6 April 2018
  3. Leo Walta at Soccerway
  4. LEO WALTA FORLÆNGER OG RYKKER OP I SUPERLIGA-TRUPPEN, fcn.dk, 14 July 2021
  5. NORDSJÆLLAND VS. VIBORG 1 - 2, soccerway.com, 18 July 2021
  6. Leo Walta ny mand i HB Køge, hbkoge.dk, 31 January 2023
  7. Välkommen till Mjällby AIF – Leo Walta, maif.se, 1 August 2023
  8. Leo Walta gjorde sina två första mål i allsvenskan – ledde Mjällby till bortaseger över IFK Norrköping, Svenska Yle, 19 September 2023
  9. Två mål av Leo Walta - Norrköping buades ut på hemmaplan, fotbollskanalen.se, 18 September 2023
  10. MTV Urheilun tiedot: Ruotsalaisseura haluaa Suomen huippulupauksen – kuuma nimi myös Hollannissa, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 5 March 2024
  11. Leo Walta klar för Sirius Fotboll, siriusfotboll.se, 8 March 2024
  12. MTV Urheilun tiedot: Ruotsalaisseura haluaa Suomen huippulupauksen – kuuma nimi myös Hollannissa, MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, Eetu Ikola, 5 March 2024
  13. Ruotsin Allsvenskanissa maaleja tehtaileva Leo Walta osui jälleen, Yle, 6 October 2024
  14. Teemu Pukin maalit Huuhkajien ilonaihe, Portugali täysin ylivoimainen, Yle, 4 June 2024
  15. "Leo Walta". flashscore.
  16. Kaikki Captain's Ballissa 2021 jaetut palkinnot