Miko Virtanen

Last updated
Miko Virtanen
Personal information
Full name Miko Aarne Virtanen [1]
Date of birth (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Tampere, Finland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Elgin City
Youth career
2007–2011 TPV
2011–2017 Everton
2017–2019 Aberdeen
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2021 Aberdeen 2 (0)
2019–2020Arbroath (loan) 21 (0)
2020–2021Arbroath (loan) 9 (0)
2021–2023 Hamilton Academical 20 (0)
2023 Cove Rangers 11 (0)
2023–2025 Alloa Athletic 46 (1)
2025– Elgin City 0 (0)
International career
2017–2018 Finland U19 6 (0)
2019–2020 Finland U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 May 2025

Miko Aarne Virtanen (born 29 January 1999) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Elgin City. He has previously played for Aberdeen, Arbroath, Hamilton Academical, Cove Rangers and Alloa Athletic.

Contents

Club career

Youth career

Virtanen started playing football in Tampere, Finland for local team TPV. [2] He and his family moved to England when he was 13 years old after impressing Everton during an international youth tournament. [3]

Aberdeen

On 2 November 2017, it was announced that Virtanen had joined Aberdeen until the end of the season after a successful trial with the club. He said upon signing that he hoped joining Aberdeen would help him secure his place in the Finland squad at the following year's Euro Under-19 finals. [3]

Arbroath loans

On 29 August 2019, Virtanen moved to Arbroath on a season long loan. [4] He made his debut on 28 September 2019, in a 2–1 away defeat against Dundee United in the Scottish Championship. [5] He was again loaned to Arbroath in September 2020, [6] until recalled by Aberdeen in January. [7]

Hamilton Academical

In August 2021 he signed for Hamilton Academical. [8] After making 24 appearances and scoring 1 goal over two seasons, Virtanen left Accies by mutual consent on 9 January 2023. [9]

Cove Rangers

Following his release from Hamilton, Virtanen returned to the north-east of Scotland to sign for Scottish Championship side Cove Rangers on a deal until the end of the season. [10] Virtanen was released in May 2023 with Cove Rangers relegated from the Scottish Championship.

Alloa Athletic

On 20 January 2023, Virtanen was announced at Alloa Athletic. [11]

Elgin City

On 31 May 2025, Virtanen signed for Scottish League Two side Elgin City on a one-year deal with an option to extend the contract. [12]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 April 2025 [13] [14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen U21 2018–19 1 [a] 010
2019–20 1 [a] 010
Total0000002020
Aberdeen 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 0000000000
2019–20 Scottish Premiership0000000000
2020–21 Scottish Premiership2000000020
Total2000000020
Arbroath (loan) 2019–20 Scottish Championship 210300000240
2020–21 Scottish Championship90003000120
Total300303000360
Hamilton Academical 2021–22 Scottish Championship150100031191
2022–23 Scottish Championship5000000050
Total200100031241
Cove Rangers 2022–23 Scottish Championship110000000110
Alloa Athletic 2023–24 Scottish League One 241204010311
2024–25 Scottish League One22000003 [a] 0250
Total461204040561
Career total11016070811312
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup

References

  1. "Updated Premier League squads for 2016/17 released". Premier League. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. Tietotoimisto, Suomen. "12-vuotias suomalaislahjakkuus pääsee toteuttamaan unelmansa". Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Aberdeen: Miko Virtanen eyes Euro finals place after Everton exit". 2 November 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  4. "Miko Virtanen Heads To Arbroath On Loan". Inverness Reds. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. "Dundee United 2-1 Arbroath: Late Lawrence Shankland double keeps hosts top". 21 September 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  6. Cryle, Ryan (4 September 2020). "Aberdeen's Miko Virtanen joins Arbroath for a second loan spell". eveningexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. Wallace, Sean (4 January 2021). "Aberdeen recall Anderson and Virtanen from loan deals". eveningexpress.co.uk.
  8. "Miko Virtanen signs for Accies". August 5, 2021.
  9. Academy (2023-01-09). "Virtanen Departs". Hamilton Academical Website. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  10. "Miko Virtanen Joins The Journey". Cove Rangers Website. 2023-01-23.
  11. "Miko Virtanen signs". www.alloaathletic.co.uk.
  12. "Miko Virtanen signs for Elgin City". www.elgincity.net.
  13. Miko Virtanen at Soccerway
  14. Miko Virtanen at Soccerbase