Rasmus Karjalainen


Rasmus Karjalainen is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a winger for SJK. He began his senior career in 2014, at age 18, with OLS.
Karjalainen made his international debut for Finland in June 2018, and has since appeared in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League and in Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 campaign, in which Finland national team secured its first ever place in European Football Championship tournament's group stage.

Club career

OLS

Karjalainen made his debut on senior level on 3 May 2014 in the ranks of OLS in a Kakkonen match against PS Kemi.

SJK Akatemia

For the next season he transferred to SJK's reserve team SJK Akatemia. During the season he gained 27 caps and 15 goals and was the second best goal scorer of the division.

Oulu

He spent season 2016 in his home town Oulu playing for AC Oulu.

PS Kemi

Karjalainen made his debut on the highest level of Finnish football, Veikkausliiga on season 2017 when he transferred to PS Kemi. He made his debut on 8 April, playing the first 70 minutes of a 0–0 draw against HIFK.

KuPS

For season 2018 he signed for KuPS.

Fortuna Sittard

In June 2019 he made a deal with Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard, for an undisclosed fee.
In August 2020 he was loaned for a year to Allsvenskan side Örebro. In March 2021, Karjalainen suffered almost a career ending severe head injury in training with Örebro, and was forced to be ruled out for several months.

Helsingborg

On 17 July 2021, Karjalainen joined Superettan club Helsingborgs IF, signing a two-year deal.

Return to Oulu

On 23 June 2022, Karjalainen returned to AC Oulu for an undisclosed fee.
After the 2023 Veikkausliiga season, it was announced that Karjalainen will leave AC Oulu.

SJK

On 16 November 2023, it was confirmed by SJK that they had signed with Karjalainen on a two-year deal, starting in 2024. He played for the club's reserve team Kerho-07, currently SJK Akatemia, in 2015.

International career

Karjalainen made his debut for the Finland national team on 5 June 2018 in a friendly match in Ilie Oană Stadium, Ploiești against Romania when he replaced Berat Sadik as a substitute on 63rd minute.

Career statistics

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 January 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–21–2Friendly

Honours

KuPS
AC Oulu
Individual
  • Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2017
  • Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: May 2018