Matti Peltola (born 3 July 2002) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as midfielder and defender for Major League Soccer franchise D.C. United and the Finland national team.Player profile, HJK
Early life Born in Espoo, Peltola started playing football in Belgium, where his family lived for a couple of years due to father's work. After returning to Finland, Peltola joined youth team in Vantaa.
Club career HJK Helsinki Peltola played in the youth team of HJK in Munkkiniemi along with Santeri Väänänen since the age of ten, before making his debut in the first team in Veikkausliiga on 19 October 2019 against Ilves.Soccerway, Ilves – HJK
On 21 August 2020, Peltola signed a professional contract with the club, on a two-year deal with an option for an additional year.Matti Peltola jatkaa Klubissa, HJK, 21 August 2020
On 23 August 2022, HJK announced that they had exercised their option to keep Peltola in Helsinki for the 2023 season.HJK käytti neljän pelaajansa optiot, HJK 23 August 2022 He scored his first goal in the league on 9 May 2023 in away game against KTP.KTP VS. HJK 3–3, soccerway
D.C. United On February 2, 2024, Peltola signed with Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise D.C. United on a four-year contract, with the option to extend,D.C. United Sign Finland National Team Midfielder Matti Peltola, dcunited.com, 2 February 2024 as a Young Designated Player. D.C. United had earlier acquired Peltola's MLS Discovery Priority rights from Minnesota United for $75,000.Huuhkajien komeetta siirtyy jättisopimuksella – avaa nyt puhuttanutta ratkaisuaan: "Valehtelisin, jos sanoisin", mtvuutiset.fi, 2 February 2024 He debuted in MLS with his new team on 25 February 2024 in the 2024 season opening game, after being named in the starting line-up in a 3–1 home win against an old rival franchise New England Revolution.UNITED - NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION LINE-UP, EurosportMatti Peltola vakuutti MLS-debyytissään, fanit protestoivat katsomossa, Helsingin Sanomat, 25 February 2024
International career Peltola represented Finland at various youth national teams, from under-16 to under-21 levels.
Peltola made his Finland senior national team debut on 12 January 2023, in a friendly match against Estonia.FINLAND VS. ESTONIA 0–1, soccerway On 26 March 2023, he made his competitive international debut in a 1–0 away win against Northern Ireland. He was capped four times in total for Finland in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign in 2023.M. PELTOLA, soccerway
Personal life Peltola is a fluent French-speaker and has attended the French–Finnish school of Helsinki. Growing up, he also played ice hockey, before choosing football over it, thanks to his mother's advice.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cup League cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKlubi 042018Ykkönen1000———102019Kakkonen2110010——2212020Kakkonen1120———312021Ykkönen3000———302022Kakkonen3000———30Total29220100000322HJK2019Veikkausliiga1000—00—102020Veikkausliiga0041———412021Veikkausliiga16000—90—2502022Veikkausliiga1503020120—3202023Veikkausliiga212005080—342Total532717029000963D.C. United2024MLS31000——303402025MLS26030———2902026MLS14111———152Total71141000030782Career total153513280290302067
International
National teamYearCompetitiveFriendlyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFinland20234Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification.0105020246Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification and 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B.0309020257Appearances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.0209020261Appearances in the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League C.02Includes two appearances in the 2026 FIFA Series.030Total18080260
Honours HJK Helsinki Veikkausliiga: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Finnish Cup: 2020 Finnish League Cup: 2023
Finland FIFA Series: 2026
Individual Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2023Toimittajat äänestivät: Tässä on Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue, Iltalehti, 21 October 2023
References
External links