Paulus Arajuuri

Paulus Arajuuri
Personal information
Date of birth15 June 1988
Place of birthHelsinki, Finland
Height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Lech Poznań
Number6
Youth career
Halkian Alku
NuPS
SibboV
FC Jokerit
FC Espoo
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006FC Honka1(0)
2008–2009IFK Mariehamn48(3)
2009–2013Kalmar FF56(3)
2014-Lech Poznań24(3)
National team‡
2008–2010Finland U2112(0)
2010–Finland6(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 June 2013

Paulus Verneri Arajuuri (born 15 June 1988 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional footballer, who plays for Lech Poznań in the Ekstraklasa.

Club career

Arajuuri (left) and Mika Niskala at IFK Mariehamn

Originally from Helsinki, Arajuuri moved to the Åland Islands and IFK Mariehamn in 2008. He had already made his debut in the Veikkausliiga with FC Honka against rivals HJK Helsinki. During his first season with IFK Mariehamn, he participated in all except two games, making it a total of 24 appearances.

During the summer of 2009, Arajuuri was frequently linked with a move to Sweden, especially to Djurgårdens IF. Arajuuri's player agent, Jonas Wirmola, admitted to one of the major newspapers of Åland that Djurgården and several other clubs had shown interest in the young Finnish defender.[1]

Eventually, Arajuuri signed a four-year deal (on a Bosman-transfer) with the Swedish champions of 2008, Kalmar FF on 24 September 2009.[2]

Arajuuri netted his first league goals for Kalmar FF home against GAIS on 23 June 2011. He scored twice to help the Småland club earn a 2 - 1 victory.[3] From January 1, 2014 he will play for Polish side KKS Lech Poznań.[4]

International career

Arajuuri made his debut in the Finland national under-21 football team in a friendly against Poland in Jyväskylä on 3 June 2008.[5]

Arajuuri has also represented Finland's U-23 national team in the International Challenge Trophy.[6]

Arajuuri was called up to represent Finland in the U-21 national team qualifiers for the 2011 U-21 Euros. He was a part of the squad that faced Holland and Poland in September 2009, and has since that become a regular.[7] Arajuuri earned his first cap for Finland in a friendly against South Korea on 18 January 2010 in Malaga, Spain. Arajuuri came on as a substitute in the 84th minute.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Fortfarande oklart kring Arajuuri-flytt". Nya Åland (in Swedish) (Mariehamn, Finland). 20 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  2. ↑ "Paulus Arajuuri siirtyy Kalmariin". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish) (Mariehamn, Finland). 24 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  3. ↑ "Paulus frälste Guldfågeln Arena". Kalmar FF (in Swedish) (Kalmar, Sweden). 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  4. ↑ http://www.lechpoznan.pl/news/paulus,arajuuri,pilkarzem,lecha
  5. ↑ "U21 Suomi-Puola 3.6". Futismaailma.com (in Finnish) (Jyväskylä, Finland). 3 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
  6. ↑ "U23: Suomi Italian kimppuun keskiviikkona". Palloliitto.fi (in Finnish) (Helsinki, Finland). 1 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  7. ↑ "Paulus representerar Finland". GMM (Helsinki, Finland). 26 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-26. (Swedish)
  8. ↑ "Förlust för Lyyski och Arajuuri i debuten". Nya Åland (in Swedish) (Mariehamn, Finland). 18 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-119. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links