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”.Kiitos, Diego! , hjk.fi
Career KuPS Paananen started football with SiPS youth sector,SiPS-kasvatti ja nykypelaajien ennätysmies siirtyy AC Oulun riveihin, uutis-jousi.fi, 6 November 2023 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.Aleksi Paananen siirtyy FC Interiin , fcinter.fi, 1 November 2018 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.
On 5 November 2023, it was announced that Paananen will leave HJK after the season.
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.ALEKSI PAANANEN SIIRTYY LAIVASTONSINISIIN, acoulu.fi, 5 November 2023
Career statistics Aleksi Paananen, Finnish FA + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKuPS2010Veikkausliiga1000——102011Veikkausliiga20200—102122012Veikkausliiga2325040533752013Veikkausliiga3334175—4492014Veikkausliiga3323241—405Total11091231566314321PK-37 (loan)2011Kakkonen32———32SiPS (loan)2012Kolmonen43———43Lahti2015Veikkausliiga2702040203602016Veikkausliiga3324160—4332017Veikkausliiga29040——3302018Veikkausliiga29250—20362Total1184151100401473Inter Turku2019Veikkausliiga20170—202912020Veikkausliiga21371—102942021Veikkausliiga23241–102832022Veikkausliiga2034160–304Total849222604011611HJK2023Veikkausliiga141004020201AC Oulu2024Veikkausliiga1502020–1902025Veikkausliiga000040–40Total150206000230Career total3482851641616345637
Honours KuPS Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2010 Finnish Cup runner-up: 2011, 2012, 2013
Lahti Finnish League Cup: 2016
Inter Turku Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2019, 2020 Finnish Cup runner-up: 2020, 2022 Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2022
HJK Veikkausliiga: 2023 Finnish League Cup: 2023
References
External links Profile at kups.fi