Latest news with #TopiKeskinen
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aberdeen set for Ylber Ramadani transfer windfall as Topi Keskinen tipped for mega move
Aberdeen could be in line to land a hefty transfer windfall from former midfielder Ylber Ramadani. That's according to reports in Italy, who claim that the Lecce star is a target for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ain. Advertisement Ramadani has made 63 appearances in Serie A across the past two seasons and scored a vital goal in a 1-0 win against Torino last month that helped the Apulia side retain their place in the top tier for another year. READ MORE: Bojan Miovski teases Celtic fans with 3 words for new signing as Evan Ferguson labelled 'statement of intent' READ MORE: Rangers told exactly what Jamie Vardy wants with 49ers on double duty for 10 club transfer battle royal PianettaLecce state that the Middle-Eastern club have opened talks with the Italian club over a potential deal and are reportedly willing to offer the Albania international a yearly salary of €1.2million (£1million) - which equates to around £19,230 a week. Advertisement Aberdeen chiefs will be watching on with interest, having inserted a 10 per cent sell on clause into the £1.1million deal that took Ramadani to Italy in August 2023. The Dons also have a reported 20 per cent sell on clause on Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson. The Scotland star has been a revelation since his £3million switch from Pittodrie in 2022 and skippered his team to glory in the Coppa Italia last month. Ferguson has been constantly linked with several top sides in Serie A including Juventus and AC Milan and is said to be a summer target for Scudetto winners Napoli, where he could form an all-Scottish midfield with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour. Advertisement Elsewhere, Topi Keskinen has been tipped to make a big money move back to the continent in the next year or two. The pacy winger joined Aberdeen from HJK last summer for around £800,000 and finished the campaign with six goals and three assists in 45 appearances in all competitions. The Finland international started in the Dons' shock Scottish Cup final victory on penalties over Celtic that handed the club their first success in the competition in 35 years and ensured Jimmy Thelin's debut season at Pittodrie ended on a almighty high. That victory has also guaranteed Aberdeen's place in the group stages of a European competition, with the Premiership side falling into the revamped Conference League group section if they lose out in the Europa League play-off next month. Advertisement Keskinen has been on international duty with Finland's U21 side at the European Championships in Slovakia and netted in two of his side's three group games. Topi Keskinen with a Euro U21 man of the match award -Credit:UEFA via Getty Images And while The young Eagle-owls failed to get out of their group, 22-year-old has won rave reviews for his performances, so much so that it has one Finnish pundit arguing that clubs in Germany or France might soon come calling for the wide man. Speaking to Ilta-Sanomat, football writer and UEFA coaching B license holder Tuukka Kotimäki said: "Keskinen won't be playing in Scotland for long at this rate. He is an exceptional Finnish player thanks to his speed. Advertisement "I wouldn't be surprised if he moves to a bigger league within a year or two. For example, the German and Dutch leagues could suit his straightforwardness." Fellow pundit and former Livingston and Morton player Marko Rajamäki added: "It was already clear that he is a player of the Huuhkajie level. He was our best player in this tournament, which is of course not a surprise."
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Keskinen not for sale, says Cormack
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack rules out selling winger Topi Keskinen, 22, this summer. (Daily Record), externalRead the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Premiership star earning rave reviews at the Euro under-21 champs as he bags second goal and gets POTM award
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN winger Topi Keskinen rounded off a remarkable season personally by scoring in Finland's final game at the Under 21 Euro Championships and being named player of the match. Finland came from two goals down to earn a point against Denmark as they finished the competition with a flourish. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Topi Keskinen in action for Finland at the U21 Euros Credit: Getty 3 Keskinen scored in a man of the match performance against Denmark Credit: Getty 3 Keskinen helped Aberdeen lift the Scottish Cup to end 35-year wait Credit: Alamy Two commendable draws against Denmark and the Netherlands and a defeat to Ukraine saw the Fins finish bottom of their group. But Keskinen can be proud of his performances at the tournament in Slovakia after a marathon-long campaign and can now enjoy some deserved rest. The 22-year-old struck twice in three games in the competition, with his final goal coming against the Danes and his display earning him player of the match. The UEFA Technical Observer Group said: "Keskinen produced a very positive and confident performance. "And was always the player who looked the most likely to create and score for his team throughout the game, his display capped with a wonderful strike for Finland's second." It was a short free kick laid off to him, which he drilled past the goalkeeper from outside the box. After the match, Keskinen said: "It always feels good to score goals – that is my favourite part, and winning. "I know we got a draw and I am happy to score a goal especially in front of those Finland fans, who made this tournament an unbelievable experience.' It brings to an end a tremendous season, which for him actually started more than a year ago. Keskinen played several games for HJK Helsinki beginning in April 2024, before switching to Pittodrie at the start of last season in August, in a deal worth around £900,000. Moment Aberdeen new boy Keskinen pulls on OWL MASK and flaps his arms like bird of prey He would then go on to play 45 times for the Dons across all competitions, culminating in their historic Scottish Cup victory over Celtic at Hampden in May. He also won the club's Young Player of the Year. While most of Jimmy Thelin's men would have enjoyed the celebrations and time on the beach, any thoughts of switching off for Keskinen were swiftly put to one side as he prepared for the Euro championships. And he did not take long to make an impression there, scoring in their opening match against the Netherlands to give them a shock 2-0 lead. A disappointing defeat to Ukraine would follow in the second group game but Keskinen bounced back against Denmark. It was his 69th and final game in what has been a long, long season but one he will never forget. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Press and Journal
04-06-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen lifts lid on mammoth 18-month season - that will continue with Euro under-21 finals this month
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen is determined to end a mammoth 18-month long season by becoming a history maker with Finland. Keskinen is set to star for his nation in the UEFA European under-21 Championship that runs in Slovakia from June 11 to 28. The 22-year-old has been recalled from the senior squad for the Euro U21 finals because the tournament has immense significant for the Finns. It is only the second time Finland have reached the Euro U21 finals, with the previous appearance in 2009. Participation in the Euros further extends Keskinen's gruelling season that began in January last year with HJK Helsinki. He enters the Euros on a high having helped Aberdeen secure Scottish Cup glory with a win against Celtic in the final. Keskinen has played 71 games without a break and admits that relentless schedule is tiring, more emotionally and physically. However, he is fired up for one last push to add international glory to his Scottish Cup winning triumph. He said: 'I knew I was going to have a long season when I didn't get sold in the January transfer window last year. 'I thought 'now I'm in Helsinki and the target is to go in the summer'. 'I have played for one-and-a-half years now but that is just professional football. 'When you have so many games you don't have that much time to think about it. 'I just had to make sure that I recovered well from the different games. 'I'll have a few days off and then I have the Euros. 'I think mentally it's even harder than physically.' Keskinen's season began in January last year when competing in the Finnish Cup. The winger had only a month off having competed in the UEFA Conference League group stages until late December. He faced Aberdeen home and away during that group stage in 2023, starting a 2-2 draw in Finland on November 30. Keskinen played 22 games for HJK Helsinki in the new Finnish season before an £860,000 transfer to Aberdeen last summer. The winger's final appearance for HJK Helsinki was when starting a 3-0 win against AC Oulu in the Veikkausliiga on July 27. His debut for Aberdeen was on August 17 when coming off the bench to score a stoppage time winner in a 1-0 League Cup win against Queen's Park. Keskinen said: 'We had a longer season with HJK Helsinki because we were in the group stages (Conference League). 'We were still playing in the group stages when all the other teams were back from their holidays. 'Helsinki came back in January, so I had some of December off.' Finland will kick-start their Euro U21 campaign with a group clash against Netherlands at the Košická Futbalová arena on June 12. They also face Ukraine and Denmark in Group D with the final match on June 18. Should Finland progress from the groups the quarter-finals are on June 21 and 22. The semi-finals are on June 25 with the final set for three days later. Aberdeen return for pre-season training in late June in preparation for a campaign with guaranteed European league action. Keskinen said: 'I'm likely to get extra time off (by Aberdeen) having been involved at the Euros. 'It depends how far we get. 'But when you play 18 months of football in a row, you don't really need a full pre-season.' Keskinen played a key role in Finland's qualification campaign in Group E for the Euro U21 finals. During that campaign the winger broke into the Finland senior squad. He made his senior debut when introduced off the bench in a 3-0 Nations League loss to Greece on September 7. His first start for Finland came three days later in a 2-0 Nations League loss to England at Wembley. Capped four times Keskinen was recalled to the under-21 squad because success in the tournament means so much to the nation. He said: 'It's only the second time in Finnish history we've had a team in the Euro under-21 finals. 'This is a really big thing for Finnish football culture. 'We have a really good team and want to go through from the group. 'My friend Jukka Raitala who was a teammate at Helsinki is 36 now. 'He was in the team the last time Finland were in the under-21 Euros, so it's been a while.'
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Topi Keskinen is Aberdeen marathon man as gruelling schedule almost over bar one more target to hit
The Finn has been paying non-stop for almost 18 months but Scottish Cup party wasn't the end of the hard work Scottish Cup hero Topi Keskinen hasn't had a break for 18 months and won't get one until after this month's Euro Under-21 tournament finishes. The Finnish star played half a season for HJK before he moved to Aberdeen in an £800,000 move last August, which has seen him play constantly for the last year-and-a-half. It has been non-stop for the flying winger but he is looking for one last push, with Finland's young guns gracing the Euros for only the second time in their history. Keskinen will head to the finals in Slovakia full of confidence after helping Aberdeen shock Celtic in last month's Scottish Cup Final. When asked about his gruelling schedule, he said: 'Yes, of course it is. I knew already when I didn't get sold in the January transfer window, I was like, 'OK, now I'm in Helsinki.' 'I was like, 'OK, now the target is to go in the summer.' 'I knew already that it's going to mean I will have a long season but I've done better than I thought I would do. 'Of course it's mentally and physically tough. I think mentally it's even harder than physically. Yes, it is but you're still waiting for professional football. 'It's good that you have so many games, you don't have that much time to think about it, it's just football. 'I have the Euros and after that one I'll take it easy. But it's just football, it's not that deep, you know? 'If I play one-and-a-half years, everyone has different stories and all that so I just need to make sure I recover well to the different games.' The 22-year-old's last lengthy break was back in December 2023 but even then he didn't get a long breather as HJK had group stage Euro football. That's something he will be returning to with Aberdeen. He recalled: 'I came back to Helsinki in January and we had a longer season because we were in the group stage. 'We were still playing in the group stage and we had to come back from our holidays. So I had December off and then I was back in.' Finland are out make their mark at the Euro finals but they have a tough opener against a talented young Dutch side next Wednesday. They then take on Ukraine and Denmark in a whirlwind seven days. Keskinen and his team aren't going to make up the numbers, with the Dons star making it clear that progress from their section is the aim. Keskinen, along with a handful of his team-mates, has already been capped at senior level so it shows the potential in their squad. One of his four outings for the senior side came at Wembley and that experience will stand him in good stead for the Euro finals. He said: 'It's in Slovakia and we play Holland, Ukraine and Denmark. It's an OK group. We want to go through because we have a really good team. 'Four or five of the group already have full Finnish caps.' It is also a competition that will put Keskinen in the shop window. It has been more than 15 years since the Finnish Under-21s last qualified for these finals. It has been a big thing back in his homeland as they look for a new golden generation to burst on to the scene. Keskinen admitted: 'My friend Jukka Raitala, he's 36 now, he was in the group last time they were at the Euro finals. 'So it's been a while. Jukka was my team-mate in Helsinki, he played centre-back or left-back. He still plays now (for Gnistan).' The Finn will get a break after the Euros to finally recharge the batteries before he gets ready to go with Aberdeen in the Europa League qualifiers. Jimmy Thelin will be looking to build on their Scottish Cup win as he prepares for his second season at Pittodrie. Keskinen now has more competition in the wide areas with Aberdeen snapping up Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic from Western Sydney Wanderers. But the Finn has been one of the first names on the team sheet and he's confident of rising to the challenge and shining in the new campaign at home and abroad. The summer break will give him the chance to find some more energy and he said: 'After the last game of the Euros, I'll get some time off. June 18 is the last match of the group stage so it all depends on how far we get. 'When you play 18 months of football in a row, you don't really need a full pre-season. 'I'm likely to get extra time off having been involved at the Euros.'
