Joel Andrei Sakarinpoika Lehtonen (born 29 November 1999) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Veikkausliiga club FC Lahti.
Club career After advancing through the youth program of his hometown club FC Jazz, Lehtonen made his senior debut with the club's first team in third-tier Kakkonen in 2017. In 2019, he spent half of a season in Spain with CF Badalona, but returned to Jazz for the 2020 season. He left the club in early 2023.Joel Lehtonen matkaa Ykköseen, fcjazz.com/fi, 21 January 2023
In January 2023, Lehtonen signed with Ekenäs IF (EIF) in second-tier Ykkönen.LEHTONEN: ”KULTURKROCK ATT KOMMA TILL EKENÄS”, herrar.eiffotboll.fi, 21 January 2023Försvararen Joel Lehtonen är klar för EIF – ”Jag behöver en ny nivå”, Västra Nyland, 21 January 2023 The team won the 2023 Ykkönen title and were promoted to top-tier Veikkausliiga. On 1 September 2024, Lehtonen scored his first Veikkausliiga goal for EIF, in a 1–1 home draw against SJK Seinäjoki. EIF were relegated back to the second tier, and Lehtonen left the club after the 2024 season.
On 26 October, AC Oulu in Veikkausliiga announced the signing of Lehtonen on a one-year deal with a one-year option.JOEL LEHTONEN SAAPUU AC OULUUN, acoulu.fi, 26 October 2024
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJazz2017Kakkonen10140––1412018Kakkonen15000––150Total251400000291Badalona2019–20Segunda División B0000––00Jazz2020Kakkonen13010––1402021Kakkonen201–––2012022Kakkonen23210––242Total563200000583EIF Akademi2023Kolmonen11–––11EIF2023Ykkönen2304040–3102024Veikkausliiga2313140–302Total461718000612AC Oulu2025Veikkausliiga2014050–291FC Lahti2026Veikkausliiga502051–121Career total1537191181001909
Honours EIF Ykkönen: 2023Sensaation tehneen seuran porilaispelaaja kertoo, minkälainen ratkaiseva ero on Porilla ja idyllisellä ruotsinkielisellä pikkukaupungilla, Satakunnan Kansa, 8 October 2023
References
External links
Joel Lehtonen stats at Finnish FA