Leo Walta (born 24 June 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Allsvenskan side Sirius.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leo Walta | ||
| Date of birth | 24 June 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Vantaa, Finland | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sirius | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Pakkalan Palloseura | |||
| –2019 | HJK | ||
| 2019–2021 | Nordsjælland | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | Klubi 04 | 6 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Nordsjælland | 19 | (0) |
| 2023 | → HB Køge (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2023 | → Mjällby (loan) | 11 | (2) |
| 2024– | Sirius | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Finland U15 | ||
| 2019 | Finland U16 | 3 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Finland U17 | 12 | (3) |
| 2022 | Finland U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2021– | Finland U21 | 10 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024 | |||
Club career edit
HJK Helsinki edit
Walta started at HJK Helsinki when he was eight years old.[1] Walta was a very attractive player during his youth years at HJK, where it led to several trials in, among others, German clubs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich, and also at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.[2] However, he couldn't move abroad until he was 16 years old, according to FIFA rules.
Therefore, he stayed at HJK and at the age of 15 in May 2019, started playing for HJK's reserve team, Klubi 04, in the Finnish third division, Kakkonen.[3]
FC Nordsjælland edit
In September 2019 it was announced, that FC Nordsjælland had bought 16-year old Walta from HJK Helsinki for "a significant transfer amount".[1] In his first season at the club, he mostly played for the U-17 team, but also made seven appearances and scored two goals for the U-19s, while he also made his reserve team debut in November 2019.
In the 2020–21 season, Walta became a key player for Nordsjælland's U19s, where he played 23 league games and scored six goals. At the end of the season, on 14 July 2021, Nordsjælland confirmed, that Walta had signed a new deal with the club and had been promoted to the first team squad.[4] Four days later, on 18 July 2021, Walta got his professional debut for Nordsjælland against Viborg FF in the Danish Superliga.[5]
HB Køge (loan) edit
On transfer deadline day, 31 January 2023, HB Køge confirmed that Walta had joined the club on a loan deal for the remainder of the season.[6]
Mjällby AIF (loan) edit
After returning to Nordsjælland, he was sent out on loan again, this time to Allsvenskan club Mjällby AIF until the end of 2023.[7]
IK Sirius edit
On 8 March 2024, Walta joined Allsvenskan side Sirius on a deal until 30 June 2028 for an undisclosed fee.[8][9]
International career edit
Walta is a regular youth international, and has represented Finland at various youth national team levels.
Career statistics edit
- As of 20 April 2024[10]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Klubi 04 | 2019 | Kakkonen | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Nordsjælland | 2021–22 | Danish Superliga | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Danish Superliga | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| HB Køge (loan) | 2022–23 | Danish 1st Division | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| Mjällby (loan) | 2023 | Allsvenskan | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||
| Sirius | 2024 | Allsvenskan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 54 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 5 | ||
- ^ Includes Danish Cup, Svenska Cupen
Honours edit
- Football Association of Finland: Young Player of the Year 2021[11]
References edit
- ^ a b FC Nordsjælland handler: Henter finsk teenager for "betydeligt beløb", tipsbladet.dk, 2 September 2019
- ^ Flere storklubber interesseret i 14-årig Allan Simonsen-type, tv3sport.dk, 6 April 2018
- ^ Leo Walta at Soccerway
- ^ LEO WALTA FORLÆNGER OG RYKKER OP I SUPERLIGA-TRUPPEN, fcn.dk, 14 July 2021
- ^ NORDSJÆLLAND VS. VIBORG 1 - 2, soccerway.com, 18 July 2021
- ^ Leo Walta ny mand i HB Køge, hbkoge.dk, 31 January 2023
- ^ Välkommen till Mjällby AIF – Leo Walta, maif.se, 1 August 2023
- ^ Leo Walta klar för Sirius Fotboll, siriusfotboll.se, 8 March 2024
- ^ MTV Urheilun tiedot: Ruotsalaisseura haluaa Suomen huippulupauksen – kuuma nimi myös Hollannissa, MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, Eetu Ikola, 5 March 2024
- ^ "Leo Walta". flashscore.
- ^ Kaikki Captain's Ballissa 2021 jaetut palkinnot
External links edit
- Leo Walta at Soccerway