Aleksi Paananen
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 Paananen with Lahti in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 January 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Siilinjärvi, Finland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AC Oulu | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SiPS | |||
| KuPS | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2014 | KuPS | 110 | (9) |
| 2011 | → PK-37 (loan) | 3 | (2) |
| 2015–2018 | Lahti | 118 | (4) |
| 2019–2022 | Inter Turku | 83 | (9) |
| 2023 | HJK | 14 | (1) |
| 2024– | AC Oulu | 37 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| Finland U16 | 4 | (1) | |
| 2009–2010 | Finland U17 | 15 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Finland U18 | 4 | (2) |
| 2011 | Finland U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2013 | Finland U20 | 2 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Finland U21 | 13 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 November 2025 | |||
Aleksi Paananen (born 25 January 1993) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu. He is often labeled as Thiago Alcantara or Diego Maradona of Finnish football, of which the latter he got the nickname ”Diego”.[2]
KuPS
Paananen started football with SiPS youth sector,[3] before moving to KuPS in the nearby town of Kuopio. He made his senior debut with the KuPS first team in Veikkausliiga in 2010.
Inter Turku
On 1 November 2018, Inter Turku announced the signing of Paananen for the 2019 season.[4] He signed a 2-year deal.
HJK
On 2 November 2022, Paananen signed a contract with HJK for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[5]
On 5 November 2023, it was announced that Paananen will leave HJK after the season.[2]
AC Oulu
In November 2023, it was announced that Paananen had signed with fellow Veikkausliiga side AC Oulu on a two-year deal with an option for an additional year, starting in 2024.[6]
