# Niklas Jokelainen

Niklas Jokelainen (born 30 March 2000) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and captains AC Oulu in Veikkausliiga.

## Career
### AC Oulu

His senior career began in 2015, after 14-year old Jokelainen signed a professional pre-contract in December 2014. At the age of 15 and one month, Jokelainen became the youngest player to play in the AC Oulu shirt when he made his debut in February 2015. He played in six Ykkönen matches during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, before moving to the Academy of Stoke City in the summer 2016.

### Ilves

In August 2017, Jokelainen returned to Finland and joined Ilves, playing in the Veikkausliiga. He made his debut in the league on 8 April 2018, and scored his first league goal on 25 April 2018 against the VPS. In the 2018 season, Jokelainen played a total of 18 league matches and one UEFA Europa League qualifying match, against Slavia Sofia.

### RoPS

On 13 November 2018, Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) announced that they had signed with Jokelainen for the 2019 season. Jokelainen played a total of 20 league matches and scored two goals in his first season with the club. He also played in both UEFA Europa League qualifying matches against Aberdeen.

### Return to AC Oulu

Jokelainen returned to AC Oulu for the 2020 season, playing in the second-tier Ykkönen. After the 2020 season, the club won a promotion back to Veikkausliiga and Jokelainen stayed with the club. On 6 October 2022, he extended his contract with AC Oulu on a deal until the end of 2024. In April 2024, Jokelainen was named the captain of his team for the 2024 season. On 18 October, he extended his contract until the end of 2026 with a one-year option.

## Career statistics

    As of 26 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| AC Oulu | 2015 | Ykkönen | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| AC Oulu | 2016 | Ykkönen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| AC Oulu | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Stoke City | 2016–17 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Ilves | 2017 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Ilves | 2018 | Veikkausliiga | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Ilves | Total | Total | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| JJK (loan) | 2018 | Ykkönen | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| RoPS | 2019 | Veikkausliiga | 20 | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
| RoPS II | 2019 | Kakkonen | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 |
| AC Oulu | 2020 | Ykkönen | 21 | 5 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 10 |
| AC Oulu | 2021 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| AC Oulu | 2022 | Veikkausliiga | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 4 |
| AC Oulu | 2023 | Veikkausliiga | 28 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 7 |
| AC Oulu | 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 21 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 5 |
| AC Oulu | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 5 | 2 |
| AC Oulu | Total | Total | 115 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 30 |
| OLS | 2022 | Kakkonen | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 172 | 28 | 30 | 12 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 221 | 42 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup
* ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup
* 1 2 Includes UEFA Europa League

## Honours

AC Oulu
* Ykkönen: 2020
* Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2023
Individual
* Northern Finland Football Association: Player of the Year 2024