Elias Mikko Ilmari Äijälä (born 24 March 2003) is a Finnish professional football player who most recently played as a full back for Veikkausliiga side Gnistan.

Elias Äijälä
Personal information
Full name Elias Mikko Ilmari Äijälä
Date of birth (2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Espoo, Finland
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2011–2023 Honka
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Honka II 27 (0)
2022–2023 Honka 29 (0)
2024 Gnistan 20 (1)
2024PKKU (loan) 1 (0)
International career
2024– Finland U21 2 (0)
Medal record
Honka
First place Finnish League Cup 2022
Second place Finnish Cup 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024

Career

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Äijälä started in a youth sector of Honka, when he was eight years old.[1] He made his Veikkausliiga debut with Honka first team in 2022. After the 2023 season, Honka was suddenly declared for bankruptcy, and Äijälä was released.

On 16 January 2024, Äijälä signed a one-year deal with newly promoted Veikkausliiga side IF Gnistan.[2][3] He scored his first goal in Veikkausliiga on 30 June, in a 2–1 home defeat against Ekenäs IF.

International career

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Äijälä was called-up to the Finland under-21 national team for a friendly tournament Baltic Cup in early June 2024. He played in two games against Estonia and Lithuania.

Career statistics

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As of 4 November 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Honka Akatemia 2020 Kakkonen 1 0 1 0
2021 Kakkonen 14 0 14 0
2022 Kakkonen 6 0 6 0
2023 Kakkonen 6 0 6 0
Total 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
Honka 2022 Veikkausliiga 18 0 1 0 2 0 21 0
2023 Veikkausliiga 11 0 3 0 5 0 2[c] 0 21 0
Total 29 0 4 0 7 0 2 0 43 0
Gnistan 2024 Veikkausliiga 20 1 1 0 5 0 26 1
PKKU (loan) 2024 Ykkönen 1 0 1 0
Career total 77 1 5 0 12 0 2 0 96 1
  1. ^ Includes Suomen Cup
  2. ^ Includes Finnish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Honka

References

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