Eetu Vertainen
Eetu Vertainen (born 11 May 1999) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Super League Greece 2 club Athens Kallithea, on loan from Triestina.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 11 May 1999 | ||
Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Athens Kallithea (on loan from Triestina) | ||
Number | 33 | ||
Youth career | |||
KyIF | |||
HJK | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2020 | Klubi 04 | 41 | (13) |
2017–2020 | HJK | 57 | (8) |
2021 | Ilves | 11 | (4) |
2021–2023 | St Johnstone | 7 | (0) |
2022 | → Linfield (loan) | 10 | (4) |
2022–2023 | → Linfield (loan) | 30 | (17) |
2023– | Triestina | 0 | (0) |
2023– | → Athens Kallithea (loan) | 0 | (0) |
International career | |||
Finland U19 | |||
Finland U21 | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:42, 29 April 2023 (UTC) |
Career
Vertainen began his youth career with KyIF, before joining the academy of HJK at the age of 11.[2][3] He started his senior career with Klubi 04, before playing for HJK and Ilves in the Veikkausliiga.[4]
Vertainen signed a two-year contract with Scottish club St Johnstone on 1 September 2021.[5][6]
He moved on loan to NIFL Premiership club Linfield on 7 February 2022.[7] On 19 March, he scored four goals in a 5–0 league win over Dungannon Swifts.[8][9]
On 30 June, his loan deal with the Northern Irish team was extended.[10][11] Following his performances, he was named the league's Player of the Month and won the Goal of the Month award for December 2022.[12] In January 2023, he scored hat-tricks in successive league matches.[13][14] Later in the same season, he was the subject of speculation about a permanent transfer to Linfield,[15] as well as links to Welsh club The New Saints.[16]
On 1 September 2023, Vertainen joined Serie C club Triestina on a permanent deal.[17][18] Since Triestina were unable to register him on time,[19] on 11 September he was loaned to Greek club Athens Kallithea until the end of the year, with an option to extend the deal for the rest of the 2023–24 season.[19][20]
References
- "Profile" (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- "KRISTALLINKIRKAS TAVOITE" (in Finnish). Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. 24 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- "Eetu Vertaiselle jatkosopimus". Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (in Finnish). 10 November 2020.
- Eetu Vertainen at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- "Eetu Vertainen Signs 2 Year Deal". St Johnstone Football Club. 1 September 2021.
- Gallagher, Matthew (1 September 2021). "Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen has "loads of potential", says Callum Davidson". Daily Record.
- "St Johnstone loan Eetu Vertainen to Linfield". FourFourTwo. 7 February 2022.
- "Four-goal Vertainen can still improve – Healy". BBC Sport. 19 March 2022.
- "Irish League Round-Up: Eetu Vertainen to the four as Linfield stay top with Cliftonville keeping in touch after win at Glenavon". Belfast Telegraph. 19 March 2022.
- "Eetu Vertainen moves to Linfield on loan". St Johnstone Football Club. 30 June 2022.
- Fullerton, Gareth (30 June 2022). "Linfield announce the return of striker Eetu Vertainen". BelfastLive.
- "Eetu Vertainen: Player and goal of the month award for St Johnstone loan striker". Daily Record. 6 January 2023.
- "Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew hails hat-trick hero Eetu Vertainen as Blues boost title hopes in style with victory over Ballymena United". Belfast Telegraph. 21 January 2023.
- "Linfield must improve record against title rivals, admits Ross Oliver after striker Eetu Vertainen's second consecutive hat-trick helps Blues rout Portadown". Belfast Telegraph. 28 January 2023.
- "Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen ponders permanent Linfield switch". Belfast Telegraph. 7 February 2023.
- Nicolson, Eric (2 February 2023). "Eetu Vertainen: Welsh champions TNS battling Linfield to sign St Johnstone striker in summer". The Courier.
- "Eetu Vertainen firma con la Triestina". US Triestina Calcio. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- "MTV Urheilun tiedot: Suomalaistykki teki sopimuksen Italiaan". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- Ikola, Ertu (11 September 2023). "Yllättävä käänne, Italiaan siirtynyt suomalaishyökkääjä joutui heti vaihtamaan maisemaa". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). MTV Finland. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- "Eetu Vertainen joins Athens Kallithea FC". Athens Kallithea FC. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.