Topi Keskinen Explained
Topi Keskinen |
Height: | 1.80 m |
Birth Date: | 2003 3, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Espoo, Finland |
Position: | Winger |
Currentclub: | Aberdeen |
Clubnumber: | 81 |
Youthyears1: | –2020 |
Youthclubs1: | MP |
Years1: | 2019–2022 |
Clubs1: | MP |
Caps1: | 68 |
Goals1: | 13 |
Years2: | 2020 |
Clubs2: | → SavU (loan) |
Caps2: | 3 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Years3: | 2023–2024 |
Clubs3: | HJK |
Caps3: | 42 |
Goals3: | 8 |
Years4: | 2024– |
Clubs4: | Aberdeen |
Caps4: | 0 |
Goals4: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
Nationalteam1: | Finland U19 |
Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
Nationalyears2: | 2022– |
Nationalteam2: | Finland U21 |
Nationalcaps2: | 8 |
Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
Club-Update: | 12 August 2024 |
Nationalteam-Update: | 21 November 2023 |
Topi Keskinen (born 7 March 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and for the Finland under-21 national team. Keskinen is known for his pace, dribbling and agility with the ball.[1]
Early life
Keskinen was born in Espoo, but soon after at his early age his family moved to Mikkeli in Eastern Finland. He started to play football in the youth sector of the local club Mikkelin Palloilijat (MP).
Club career
MP
He made his senior debut with MP first team in 2019, when the club played in third-tier level Kakkonen. The club won a promotion, and Keskinen signed a three-year deal with MP.[2] He was named in the first team squad for the 2020 Ykkönen season, in Finland's second tier. In 2020, he also played briefly for the associate farm club (SavU) in the fourth tier Kolmonen.[3] [4] [5]
He finished the 2022 Ykkönen season scoring 10 goals and providing six assists for his team in the division.[6]
HJK Helsinki
Keskinen signed a three-year deal with Finnish champions HJK on 23 November 2022, ahead of the 2023 Veikkausliiga season.[7] [8] On 8 February 2023, Keskinen scored four goals in his second competitive game for the club, in a 5–2 Finnish League Cup win over FC Lahti.[9] [10] [11] The club ultimately won the league cup tournament.
He scored his first Veikkausliiga goal on 5 May 2023, in 2–1 away loss to KuPS.[12] Keskinen also scored the winning goal, as HJK defeated Molde FK 1–0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round, on 25 July 2023.[13] He played in all 14 matches in the HJK's 2023–24 European campaign, in which HJK qualified to the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.[14] [15]
In the end of the 2023 season, Keskinen won his first Finnish championship title with HJK, which was the fourth championship of HJK in a row. He was named The Player of the Year by the supporters of the club, and the Rookie of the Year in Veikkausliiga.[16] Keskinen finished his first season in the league scoring twice and providing eight assists in 25 matches.[17]
Keskinen started the 2024 season efficiently scoring four goals and providing one assist in the first four matches of the season,[18] for which he was awarded the league’s Player of the Month in April 2024.
Aberdeen
On 12 August 2024, Keskinen moved to Scotland and signed a four-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen[19] for a transfer fee of €1 million,[20] making him the second most expensive signing in Aberdeen's history.[21] [22] HJK secured a sell-on clause in the transfer deal.[23] Keskinen scored in his Aberdeen debut as a subtitute on 17 August 2024, by a winning goal on a stoppage-time in a 1–0 Scottish League Cup win against Queen's Park.[24] [25]
International career
Keskinen has represented Finland at under-19 and under-21 youth national team levels.
In March 2022, Keskinen was callep up to Finland youth national team for the first time, when he was named in the Finland U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification Elite round games against Belgium, Italy and Germany. He made his youth national team debut on 23 March 2022 against Belgium, scoring a goal in the game.[26]
He made his first appearance for the Finland under-21 national team on 7 June 2022, in a 3–0 home win against Azerbaijan.[27] On 21 November 2023, Keskinen scored a brace for Finland U21 team, in a 6–0 home win against Armenia.[28] [29]
Personal life
Keskinen is a devoted Manchester United supporter, and has named Wayne Rooney his idol in football. During his free time, Keskinen is an avid fisherman; he has a tattoo of Rooney fishing on his forearm.[30]
Career statistics
Honours
HJK
2023
2023
Individual
- Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2023[31]
- Veikkausliiga Rookie of the Year: 2023[32]
- Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: April 2024[33]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 30 November 2023 . Topi Keskinen ei tiennyt Helsingissä, mistä ovesta pitää mennä sisään, mutta nyt hänelle ovat avautumassa kaikki ovet . 18 August 2024 . Ilta-Sanomat . fi.
- Web site: 10 December 2019 . EDUSTUS: MP kiinnitti nuorta voimaa - Keskinen ja Ylönen kolmen vuoden sopimuksiin . 18 August 2024 . Mikkelin Palloilijat . fi . 19 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119045043/https://mikkelinpalloilijat.fi/edustus-mp-kiinnitti-nuorta-voimaa-keskinen-ja-ylonen-kolmen-vuoden-sopimuksiin/ . live .
- Web site: 6 February 2021 . EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen itäisen alueen vuoden poikapelaaja 2020 . 18 August 2024 . Mikkelin Palloilijat . fi.
- Web site: 18 November 2020 . EDUSTUS: Läpimurto . 18 August 2024 . Mikkelin Palloilijat . fi . 19 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119052051/https://mikkelinpalloilijat.fi/edustus-lapimurto/ . live .
- Web site: 24 October 2022 . EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen - MP:n luottopelaaja . 18 August 2024 . Mikkelin Palloilijat . fi . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211231335/https://mikkelinpalloilijat.fi/edustus-topi-keskinen-mpn-luottopelaaja/ . live .
- https://mikkelinpalloilijat.fi/edustus-topi-keskinen-mpn-kauden-paras/ EDUSTUS: Topi Keskinen MP:n kauden paras
- Web site: Topi Keskinen HJK:hon kolmen vuoden sopimuksella. 31 July 2023 . HJK . fi.
- Web site: 23 November 2022 . EDUSTUS: Kiitos #18 Topi!! . 18 August 2024 . Mikkelin Palloilijat . fi . 20 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240220223415/https://mikkelinpalloilijat.fi/edustus-kiitos-18-topi/ . live .
- Web site: HJK - FC Lahti 08-02-2023. 3 August 2024. HJK Helsinki. 3 November 2023. 3 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231103120340/https://www.hjk.fi/ottelu/hjk-fc-lahti-08-02-2023/. live.
- Web site: Topi Keskinen: Tiesin kyllä, että tulen pärjäämään liigassa. 31 July 2023. Finnish FA. fi. 31 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230731085524/https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/topi-keskinen-tiesin-kylla-etta-tulen-parjaamaan-myos-liigassa/. live.
- News: Palomäki . Janne . 5 April 2023 . 20-vuotias Topi Keskinen sai todellisen unelmadebyytin HJK-paidassa: ”Se oli ihan jees” . fi . Iltalehti . 31 July 2023 . 25 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230725125548/https://www.iltalehti.fi/veikkausliiga/a/62944590-a576-475c-ba82-9db31f9ff04c . live .
- Web site: Veikkausliiga . 18 August 2024 . www.veikkausliiga.com . fi . 27 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227112937/https://www.veikkausliiga.com/tilastot/2023/veikkausliiga/ottelut/2854919/seuranta/ . live .
- News: Miettinen . Heikki . 25 July 2023 . HJK:lle tärkeä voitto Moldesta . fi . Helsingin Sanomat . 31 July 2023 . 31 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230731085524/https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000009737596.html . live .
- Web site: 1 August 2023 . HJK-sensaatio Topi Keskinen olisi jo voinut siirtyä ulkomaille, mutta jäi Suomeen – puhuu nyt suoraan tulevaisuudestaan . 18 August 2024 . mtvuutiset.fi . fi.
- Web site: Topi Keskinen hankki aarteen europelistä: ”Se oli minun Fifa-veskani” . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113185635/https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/774863c7-f593-4f93-b1ad-3ee87a2af793 . live .
- Web site: Topi Keskiselle vuoden pelaajan palkinto . 18 August 2024 . Fan Club Forza HJK ry . fi.
- Web site: 27 September 2023 . Topi Keskiseltä kauden upein maali, Joona Toiviolle uran ensimmäinen Veikkausliigassa – HJK vahvasti kiinni mestaruudessa . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 8 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208104903/https://yle.fi/a/74-20052297 . live .
- Web site: Huhtikuun joukkue valittu - HJK:n Topi Keskinen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818095217/https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2024/05/07/huhtikuun-joukkue-valittu-hjkn-topi-keskinen-veikkausliigan-kuukauden-pelaaja . live .
- Web site: Dons make Topi signing . 18 August 2024 . . en . 13 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813100906/https://www.afc.co.uk/2024/08/12/dons-make-topi-signing/ . live .
- Web site: 9 August 2024 . MTV Urheilun tiedot: HJK-tähti hylkäsi MLS:n – siirtyy isolla rahalla Skotlantiin . 18 August 2024 . mtvuutiset.fi . fi . 14 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240814151026/https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/mtv-urheilun-tiedot-hjk-tahti-hylkasi-mls-n-siirtyy-isolla-rahalla-skotlantiin/8986470#gs.d03a5q . live .
- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/6560696/jimmy-thelin-wont-put-pressure-on-aberdeen-860k-man-topi-keskinen/ No pressure message to £860,000 signing Topi Keskinen from Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin
- Web site: Evans . Anthony . 9 August 2024 . Topi Keskinen transfer fee disclosed as Aberdeen fend off MLS interest . 18 August 2024 . . en . 15 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815103517/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/topi-keskinen-aberdeen-fc-transfer-33433355 . live .
- Web site: Mäntylä . Pekka . 12 August 2024 . Topi Keskinen siirtyy Aberdeeniin . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 13 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813155054/https://www.hjk.fi/artikkelit/miehet/topi-keskinen-siirtyy-aberdeeniin/ . live .
- Web site: Britton . Ruaraidh . 17 August 2024 . Aberdeen 1 Queen's Park 0 as Keskinen scores late winner on debut in League Cup victory . 18 August 2024 . Aberdeen Live . en.
- Web site: 17 August 2024 . Topi Keskisellä satumainen debyytti Skotlannissa . 18 August 2024 . mtvuutiset.fi . fi.
- Web site: Finland U19 vs. Belgium U19 - 23 March 2022 - Soccerway . 18 August 2024 . int.soccerway.com . 13 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221113112603/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/03/23/europe/uefa-u19-championship-qualification/finland-under-19/belgium-under-19/3710067/ . live .
- Web site: Finland U21 vs. Azerbaijan U21 - 7 June 2022 - Soccerway . 18 August 2024 . int.soccerway.com.
- Web site: 21 November 2023 . Huuhkajista rannalle jätetyt nuoret näyttivät taitojaan murskavoitossa – Topi Keskiseltä unelmamaali: ”Herranpieksut!” . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231122224135/https://yle.fi/a/74-20061437 . live .
- Web site: 21 November 2023 . Pikkuhuuhkajille huima murskavoitto – Topi Keskinen täräytti häikäisevän osuman . 18 August 2024 . mtvuutiset.fi . fi . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130224038/https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/pikkuhuuhkajille-huima-murskavoitto-topi-keskinen-taraytti-haikaisevan-osuman/8824386#gs.0qy9yc . live .
- Web site: Suomen nuoren lupauksen tatuointi hämmentää – Sai faneilta härskin lempinimen hurjan maalijuhlan myötä . 18 August 2024 . . fi.
- Web site: Toimittajat äänestivät: Tässä on Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 31 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031171939/https://www.iltalehti.fi/veikkausliiga/a/e09333d9-60df-44d0-8ca8-ac3e5c48864d . live .
- Web site: Captain's Ball 2023 Kaj Natrille – Katso kaikki palkitut . 18 August 2024 . . fi . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225214201/https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/12/01/captains-ball-2023-kaj-natrille-katso-kaikki-palkitut . live .
- Web site: Veikkaus . Veikkausuutiset . 18 August 2024 . Veikkaus.fi . fi . 8 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508053151/https://www.veikkaus.fi/fi/veikkausuutiset/sponsorointi2023/jalkapallo/veikkausliiga-huhtikuun-pelaaja . live .