Dario Felix Naamo (; born 14 May 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United. Born in Finland, he plays for the Iraq national team.
Early career Naamo started playing football for Tikkurilan Palloseura (TiPS) in Vantaa, before he moved to the renowned Käpylän Pallo (KäPa) youth academy in Helsinki.Tulospalvelu Palloliitto In 2018, he joined the youth sector of Honka in Espoo.
Club career Honka Naamo made his debut with Honka first team in Veikkausliiga on 2 July 2022 at the age of 17, in a 1–1 home draw against IFK Mariehamn.HONKA VS. MARIEHAMN 1-1, soccerway On 5 September 2023, he extended his contract with Honka, signing "a new long-term deal", according to the club.Dario Naamo jatkaa Hongassa, Honka, 5 September 2023 He scored his first goal in the league on 28 October 2023, the opening goal on the 3rd minute in a 5–0 home win against AC Oulu.HONKA VS. OULU 5-0, soccerway
SJK After Honka was declared bankruptcy after the 2023 season,Espoon sokki-ilmoitus mullistaa markkinan – Nämä pelaajat viedään käsistä, Iltalehti, Anssi Karjalainen, 19 November 2023 it was announced that Naamo had signed a two-year deal with fellow Veikkausliiga club SJK on 27 November 2023.Dario Naamo pukee ylleen Kerhon paidan, sjk.fi, 27 November 2023/SJK kaappasi todellisen timantin riveihinsä, sportti.com, 27 November 2023Kova kaappaus! SJK hankki Veikkausliigan huippulupauksen, suomifutis.com, Eetu Ikola, 27 November 2023
St. Pölten On 9 September 2024, Naamo was loaned out to Austrian club SKN St. Pölten, with an obligation to buy.Dario Naamo siirtyy SJK:sta Itävaltaan, sjk.fi, 9 September 2024
On 5 November, his move to St. Pölten was made permanent for a €200,000 fee.Dario Naamo pysyvästi Itävaltaan, sjk.fi, 5 November 2024Suomen huippulupaus siirtyy ulkomaille – Veikkausliiga-seura löi rahoiksi, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 September 2024 SJK also secured a sell-on clause. Naamo scored his first goal in 2. Liga on 7 March 2025, in a 3–1 away win over Kapfenberger SV.
Dundee United On 4 July 2025, he joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.Skotlannin liigaseura hankki suomalaispelaajan, Ilta-Sanomat, 4 July 2025 However, on 14 August, Dundee United announced that they had signed with Naamo on a permanent basis on a three-year deal.DUNDEE UNITED TRIGGER OPTION TO BUY FOR DARIO NAAMO, dundeeunitedfc.co.uk, 14 August 2025
International career A regular Finnish youth international, Naamo has represented Finland at various youth national team levels.Dario Naamo: "Pitää vaan joukkueena onnistua", Finnish FA, 15 October 2024
He was named in the Finland U17 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification tournament in October 2021, against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Switzerland and Gibraltar. Finland finished 2nd in the group and advanced to the Elite round. In March 2022, Naamo was part of the Finland U17 squad in the Elite round matches against Portugal, Bulgaria and Ireland.EM-karsinnat U17-pojat MAAOTTELUT 2022, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto
Naamo was part of the Finland U18 squad winning the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in June 2023.U18-pojat nimetty kesäkuun Baltic Cupiin, Football Association of Finland, 30 May 2023
In October 2023, Naamo was named in the Finland U19 squad in the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification tournament, in three games against Romania, Czech Republic and San Marino.U19-pojat nimetty lokakuun EM-karsintaturnaukseen, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto, 25 September 2023
On 7 November 2023, Naamo got his first call-up to the Finland under-21 national team, for a friendly match against Sweden, and for a UEFA Under-21 Euro Championship qualifying match against Armenia.Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty marraskuun otteluihin, Finnish FA/Palloliitto, 7 November 2023 He made his U21 debut in a 3–0 friendly loss to Sweden on 16 November 2023. Naamo was named in the Finland U21 squad for the 2025 UEFA U21 Euro final tournament.
On 11 May 2026, Naamo's request to switch allegiance to Iraq was approved by FIFA. On 19 May, Naamo was called up to the Iraq national team preliminary training camp squad before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.راهام ارنولد يعلن لكم القائمة النهائية للمنتخب الوطني العراقي لخوض المعسكر التدريبي في إسبانيا قبل المغادرة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم Graham Arnold announces the squad of the Iraqi National Team for the Spain camp before the 2026 World Cup, Iraq National Team
Personal life Born in Finland to a Finnish mother and an Iraqi Kurdish father,Suomen futislupaus valitsemassa Irakin – Palloliitto taistelee vastaan: ”Teemme kaikkemme”, Iltalehti, 8 May 2026 Naamo is also eligible to represent Iraq. He holds a dual Finnish-Iraqi citizenship. After Naamo was allegedly contacted by the Iraq Football Association,Suomen maajoukkue vaarassa menettää superlahjakkuutensa, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, Eetu Ikola, 20 February 2024 he confirmed this in an interview in April 2024, and stated that his main goal was to represent Finland.Irakin maajoukkue yrittää kaapata suomalaisen superlupauksen – 18-vuotias kommentoi nyt tilannettaan, MTV Oy, mtvuutiset.fi, Eetu Ikola, 7 April 2024
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHonka Akatemia2022Kakkonen14100——1412023Kakkonen2000——20Total161000000161Honka2022Veikkausliiga100000—102023Veikkausliiga231512000302Total241512000312SJK Seinäjoki2024Veikkausliiga2106030—300St. Pölten2024–25Austrian 2. Liga18100——181Dundee United2025–26Scottish Premiership160101000180Career total95312160001134
Honours Honka Finnish Cup runner-up: 2023
Finland U18 Baltic Cup: 2023Finnish FA
References
External links