Ilmari Matias Niskanen (born 27 October 1997) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a left winger and wing back for club Blackpool and the Finland national team.
Club career Born in Kiuruvesi, Niskanen spent his youth years with PK-37 in Iisalmi, before starting his professional career in 2013 in a nearby town Kuopio with Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS). In the 2019 Veikkausliiga season, Niskanen helped the club to win its first Finnish championship title in 43 years. He was also named the Veikkausliiga Player of the Month in August 2019 and in July 2020.
In September 2020, Niskanen signed for German club FC Ingolstadt for a transfer fee of €350,000.
In August 2021, Niskanen had a transfer to Scottish Premiership club Dundee United, which was initially delayed due to work permit issues, before eventually completing on 20 August 2021. The transfer fee was reported to be €350,000.
On 15 August 2023, Niskanen signed for League One club Exeter City for an undisclosed fee. On 29 April 2024, Niskanen was named the Exeter City Community Champion in the club's end of season awards. On 15 May 2024, his deal was extended until June 2026. He was named the Exeter City Player of the Month in October 2024. At the end of the 2024–25 season, Niskanen received an award from Exeter City's supporters for his extensive interaction in the fan-zone area throughout the season.
He was released by Exeter at the end of the 2025–26 season.
On 27 June 2026, he joined Blackpool on a two-year contract with the option of a further year, from 1 July.https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2026/june/27/ilmari-niskanen-signs-for-the-pool/, Ilmari Niskanen Signs For The Pool, Blackpool FC, 27 June 2026
International career Niskanen represented Finland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 youth levels, before making his senior international debut in 2020.
On 10 September 2024, in a 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B away match against England, Niskanen was humiliated by the national team head coach Markku Kanerva, by substituting him in for the second half to a wrong position for his expertise. Later Finland conceded goals directly due to Niskanen's errors and eventually lost the game 2–0.
Personal life On 19 February 2025, it was reported that Niskanen had been caught by English police while driving under the influence of alcohol earlier in February. On 24 February, he was fined £2,885 and banned from driving for 18 months, by the Exeter Magistrates Court.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKuPS2013Veikkausliiga100000——102014Veikkausliiga410000——412015Veikkausliiga2011000——2112016Veikkausliiga2501000——2602017Veikkausliiga32162———3832018Veikkausliiga33464—20—4182019Veikkausliiga26551—40—3562020Veikkausliiga13651—20—207Total1541824800800018626PK-37 (loan)2013 Kakkonen22920———249KuFu-98 (loan)2014Kakkonen70–———702015Kolmonen00———1010Total700000001080PK-37 (loan)2014Kakkonen10————10KuFu-98 (loan)2017Kakkonen11————11FC Ingolstadt2020–213. Liga20000———2002021–222. Bundesliga0010———10Total20010000000210Dundee United2021–22Scottish Premiership3313000——3612022–23Scottish Premiership201200020—2412023–24Scottish Championship000010——10Total53250102000612Exeter City2023–24League One3300010—103502024–25League One4023010—104522025–26League One4633000—30523Total1195602000501325Blackpool2026–27League One100010—2040Career total37835388401008043843
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFinland202061202110202260202330202470Total231
Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Niskanen goal
+ List of international goals scored by Ilmari NiskanenNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition17 October 2020Stadion Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland21–31–5Friendly
Honours KuPS Veikkausliiga: 2019 Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2017 Finnish Cup runner-up: 2013
Individual Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: August 2019, July 2020 Exeter City: ECCT PFA Community Champion 2023–24 Exeter City Player of the Month: October 2024
References
External links
Exeter City F.C. official profile Finnish Football Federation profile