# Viljami Sinisalo

Viljami Kari Veikko Sinisalo (born 11 October 2001) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Celtic, and the Finland national team.
Sinisalo previously played for a number of junior sides in Southwest Finland, ending up at amateur side Espoo in the Finnish Kakkonen (third tier), where he made his league debut aged only fifteen; he joined Aston Villa's academy side the following year. Sinisalo has played on loan at Ayr United and Burton Albion. He has appeared regularly at youth international level for Finland before debuting for their senior side in 2023.

## Club career

Sinisalo spent his youth career with HyPS, HJK and Honka, and made his senior league debut for Espoo in third-tier level Kakkonen in June 2017, aged only 15.

### Aston Villa

He joined the U21 academy at Steve Bruce's Aston Villa in 2018, and was a regular player in their under-18 and under-23 sides.

#### Ayr United (loan)

On 25 September 2020, Sinisalo joined Ayr United in the Scottish Championship on loan until the end of the season. He made his Ayr United debut on 6 October 2020, in a 5–2 away Scottish League Cup victory over Albion Rovers. On 8 April 2021, Sinisalo's loan was cut short, after he suffered a groin injury and returned to Aston Villa.

#### Return to Villa

On 6 July 2021, Sinisalo was amongst several Academy players who were given new professional contracts. One year on, on 6 July 2022, Sinisalo renewed his Aston Villa contract once again.

#### Burton Albion (loan)

On 11 July 2022, Sinisalo signed for League One club Burton Albion on a season-long loan. He made his debut on 9 August 2022, in a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Rochdale. The loan was ended early and Sinisalo returned to Villa on 1 January 2023.

#### Exeter City (loan)

On 19 July 2023, Sinisalo joined Exeter City on a season-long loan. He was given the number 1 shirt, and got a clean sheet on his debut, a 3–0 League One victory over Wycombe Wanderers on 5 August 2023. During the season, Sinisalo made 50 appearances for the club in all competitions combined, recording 14 clean sheets. He was named The Player of the Year by the players and by the supporters of Exeter City, additionally winning four other awards in the club's end of season gala on 29 April 2024.

### Celtic

On 16 July 2024, Sinisalo signed for Scottish Premiership club Celtic on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £1 million. On 8 February 2025, he made his debut for the club in a 5–0 home victory against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup.

## International career
### Youth

Sinisalo has played for Finland at under-17 and under-19 levels. On 17 November 2020, he made his debut for the Under-21s in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Malta. Sinisalo was named Finland U21's captain for their 15 November 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Estonia. In December 2022, Sinisalo was named Finland's U21 Player of the Year for 2022.

### Senior

On 14 September 2022, Sinisalo was called up in the Finland senior squad, previous to their UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Montenegro. However, he was an unused substitute in both games.
On 12 January 2023, Sinisalo made his debut in the senior Finland national football team in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Estonia. Sinisalo made his competitive international debut on 20 November 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against San Marino.

## Personal life

Viljami Sinisalo's grandfather was the actor Veikko Sinisalo and his great-grandfather was the politician Väinö Sinisalo.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 8 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition :
| Club | Season | Division | League | League | Cup | Cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Espoo | 2017 | Kakkonen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ayr United (loan) | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Burton Albion (loan) | 2022–23 | League One | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Exeter City (loan) | 2023–24 | League One | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| Celtic | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 72 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 91 | 0 |
* ↑ Includes Scottish Cup and FA Cup
* ↑ Includes Scottish League Cup and EFL League Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearances in EFL Trophy

### International

    As of match played 7 June 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Finland | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| Finland | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 0 |

## Honours

Celtic
* Scottish League Cup: 2024–25
Individual
* Exeter City Players' Player of the Season: 2023–24
* Exeter City Supporters' Player of the Season: 2023–24