Viljami Sinisalo

Viljami Sinisalo

Sinisalo with Finland U21 in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Viljami Kari Veikko Sinisalo [1]
Date of birth	(2001-10-11) 11 October 2001 (age 23) [2]
Place of birth	Espoo, Finland
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Celtic
Number	12
Youth career
	HyPS
0000–2014	HJK
2015–2016	Honka
2017	FC Espoo
2018–2020	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	FC Espoo	1	(0)
2018–2024	Aston Villa	0	(0)
2020–2021	→ Ayr United (loan)	22	(0)
2022	→ Burton Albion (loan)	4	(0)
2023–2024	→ Exeter City (loan)	45	(0)
2024–	Celtic	0	(0)
International career‡
2016–2017	Finland U16	5	(0)
2017–2018	Finland U17	11	(0)
2019	Finland U18	3	(0)
2019	Finland U19	5	(0)
2020–2022	Finland U21	14	(0)
2023–	Finland	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 June 2024

Viljami Kari Veikko Sinisalo (born 11 October 2001) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Celtic, and the Finland national team.

Sinisalo previously played for a number of junior sides in Southwest Finland, ending up at amateur side Espoo in the Finnish Kakkonen (third tier), where he made his league debut aged only fifteen; he joined Aston Villa's academy side the following year. Sinisalo has played on loan at Ayr United and Burton Albion. He has appeared regularly at youth international level for Finland before debuting for their senior side in 2023.

Club career

Sinisalo spent his youth career with HyPS, HJK and Honka, ^[4] and made his senior league debut for Espoo in third-tier level Kakkonen in June 2017, aged only 15. ^[5]

Aston Villa

He joined the U21 academy at Steve Bruce's Aston Villa in 2018, ^[6] and was a regular player in their under-18 and under-23 sides.

Ayr United (loan)

On 25 September 2020, Sinisalo joined Ayr United in the Scottish Championship on loan until the end of the season. ^{[7] [8]} He made his Ayr United debut on 6 October 2020, in a 5–2 away Scottish League Cup victory over Albion Rovers. ^[9] On 8 April 2021, Sinisalo's loan was cut short, after he suffered a groin injury and returned to Aston Villa. ^[10]

Return to Villa

On 6 July 2021, Sinisalo was amongst several Academy players who were given new professional contracts. ^[11] One year on, on 6 July 2022, Sinisalo renewed his Aston Villa contract once again. ^[12]

Burton Albion (loan)

On 11 July 2022, Sinisalo signed for League One club Burton Albion on a season-long loan. ^[13] He made his debut on 9 August 2022, in a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Rochdale. ^[14] The loan was ended early and Sinisalo returned to Villa on 1 January 2023. ^[15]

Exeter City (loan)

On 19 July 2023, Sinisalo joined Exeter City on a season-long loan. ^[16] He was given the number 1 shirt, and got a clean sheet on his debut, a 3–0 League One victory over Wycombe Wanderers on 5 August 2023. ^[17] During the season, Sinisalo made 50 appearances for the club in all competitions combined, recording 14 clean sheets. He was named The Player of the Year by the players and by the supporters of Exeter City, additionally winning four other awards in the club's end of season gala on 29 April 2024. ^{[18] [19]}

Celtic

On 16 July 2024, Sinisalo signed for Scottish Premiership club Celtic on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, ^[20] reported to be £1 million. ^[21]

International career

Youth

Sinisalo has played for Finland at under-17 and under-19 levels. ^[2] On 17 November 2020, he made his debut for the Under-21s in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Malta. ^[22] Sinisalo was named Finland U21's captain for their 15 November 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Estonia. ^[23] In December 2022, Sinisalo was named Finland's U21 Player of the Year for 2022. ^[24]

Senior

On 14 September 2022, Sinisalo was called up in the Finland senior squad, previous to their UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Montenegro. ^[25] However, he was an unused substitute in both games. ^[26]

On 12 January 2023, Sinisalo made his debut in the senior Finland national football team in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Estonia. ^[27] Sinisalo made his competitive international debut on 20 November 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against San Marino. ^[28]

Personal life

Viljami Sinisalo's grandfather was the actor Veikko Sinisalo. ^[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024 ^[5]

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup [a]		League Cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Espoo	2017	Kakkonen	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
Aston Villa	2020–21 [30]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	1	0
	2021–22 [31]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Ayr United (loan)	2020–21 [30]	Scottish Championship	22	0	2	0	5	0	0	0	29	0
Burton Albion (loan)	2022–23 [32]	League One	4	0	1	0	1	0	2 [c]	0	8	0
Exeter City (loan)	2023–24 [33]	League One	45	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	50	0
Celtic	2024–25 [34]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			72	0	4	0	10	0	4	0	90	0

1. Includes Scottish Cup and FA Cup
2. Includes EFL League Cup
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 7 June 2024 ^[35]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Finland	2023	2	0
	2024	1	0
Total		3	0

Honours

Individual

• Exeter City Players' Player of the Season: 2023–24
• Exeter City Supporters' Player of the Season: 2023–24

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 18th May 2019: Aston Villa" (PDF). English Football League. p. 3. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
2. "Viljami Sinisalo". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
3. "Viljami Sinisalo". Burton Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
4. "Nuori suomalaismaalivahti siirtyy perinteikkääseen englantilaisseuraan". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). 29 June 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
5. Viljami Sinisalo at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
6. Dick, Brian (30 June 2018). "Aston Villa's first signing of the summer as young prospect arrives". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
7. Preece, Ashley (26 September 2020). "Villa youngster Viljami Sinisalo heads to Scotland on loan deal". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
8. Wilson, Stuart (25 September 2020). "United land Aston Villa goalkeeper starlet on loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
9. McGilvray, Andy (6 October 2020). "Albion Rovers 2 Ayr United 5: Rovers lose out to classy Ayr United". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
10. Wilson, Stuart (8 April 2021). "Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo 'gutted' to cut loan spell short at Ayr United". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
11. "Seven Villa U23s pen new deals". Aston Villa Football Club. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
12. "Viljami Sinisalo pens new deal". Aston Villa Football Club. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
13. Slater, Rob (11 July 2022). "BURTON ALBION SIGN GOALKEEPER VILJAMI SINISALO ON LOAN FROM ASTON VILLA". Burton Albion Football Club. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
14. "Rochdale 2-0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
15. "Jalkapallo | Suomalaismaalivahti Viljami Sinisalo palaa Aston Villaan". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
16. "Exeter City sign Villa keeper Sinisalo on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
17. "📝 Match Report: Wycombe Wanderers 0 City 3". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
18. 23/24 Awards: The Winners, exetercityfc.com, 29 April 2024
19. Exeter on-loan keeper Sinisalo set for 'incredible career', BBC, bbc.com, 26 April 2024
20. "Celtic delighted to sign Finland international goalkeeper, Viljami Sinisalo". Celtic FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
21. Hendry, Mark (15 July 2024). "Viljami Sinisalo Celtic transfer fee as Aston Villa keeper agrees five-year deal". Football Scotland. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
22. "Malta-Finland | Under-21". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
23. "Internationals: Tyrone Mings nets maiden England goal against San Marino". Aston Villa Football Club. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
24. "🏆 Vuoden U21-pelaajaksi on valittu Viljami Sinisalo. Paljon onnea, Viljami!". Suomen Palloliitto on Twitter (in Finnish). 1 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
25. Powlson, Nigel (14 September 2022). "SINISALO CALLED UP FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTY". Burton Albion Football Club. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
26. "Internationals: John McGinn, Robin Olsen and Ludwig Augustinsson in action". Aston Villa Football Club. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
27. VAVEL.com (12 January 2023). "Summary and goals of Finland 0-1 Estonia in Friendly Match | 01/12/2023". VAVEL. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
28. Soiri upotti maaleillaan San Marinon, Galvez syötti maalin – ”olimme kärsivällisiä”, Helsingin Sanomat, Ari Virtanen, 20 November 2023
29. Virtanen, Ari (14 October 2023). "Tulevaisuudessa tarvitaan uusi Hradecky, ja paikkaa havittelee yksi Englannissa koulittu torjuja" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
30. "Games played by Viljami Sinisalo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
31. "Games played by Viljami Sinisalo in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
32. "Games played by Viljami Sinisalo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
33. "Games played by Viljami Sinisalo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
34. "Games played by Viljami Sinisalo in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
35. "Viljami Sinisalo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 October 2023.

External links

• Exeter City FC official profile
• Finnish Football Federation profile
• Viljami Sinisalo – UEFA competition record ( archive ) 
• Viljami Sinisalo at BDFutbol
• Viljami Sinisalo at Premier League
• Viljami Sinisalo at Soccerbase