League One side Exeter City are set to win the race to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, according to Eetu Ikola from Finnish outlet MTV Uutiset.
The Finnish goalkeeper, who also had a spell at Burton Albion in League One last season, is set to join the Grecians on a season-long loan with the expectation he will join up with Gary Caldwell’s squad later this week.
Who is Viljami Sinisalo?
Born in the city of Espoo in his native Finland, goalkeeper Sinisalo would turn out for the likes of Hyvinkään Palloseura, HJK Helsinki and FC Honka at youth level, before making his senior league debut at the age of 15 for FC Espoo in June 2017.
The young goalkeeper would then make the switch to England in 2018 as he joined up with Aston Villa’s academy, becoming a regular in their under-18 and under-23 sides.
Sinisalo would then embark on his first loan spell away from the club in September 2020, joining up with Scottish Championship side Ayr United on loan for the season. In 29 appearances for the Somerset Park outfit, he kept a total of nine clean sheets as his temporary spell was cut short in April 2021 due to a groin injury.
The young goalkeeper’s first experience of playing in the EFL came with League One side Burton Albion in July 2022. Originally signed on loan for the season, Sinisalo would only appear eight times for the Brewers, keeping two clean sheets before his loan was cut short in January 2023.
The 21-year-old is also an international for his country, making 14 appearances for Finland’s Under-21s, as well as going on to earn a cap for the first team, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Estonia in January 2023.
A difficult summer
It has so far been a tough start for Exeter City so far in terms of the summer transfer window following a number of key departures who have moved one.
Some of the talent Gary Caldwell has lost so far this summer include right-back Josh Key, who has made the move to the Championship to sign for Swansea City, as well as midfielder Archie Collins, who has made the switch to fellow League One side Peterborough United.
In terms of recruitment, the Devon-based outfit have attempted to fill the voids following the departures, with full-back Vincent Harper and attacking midfielder Jack Aitchison amongst the key new arrivals joining the League One side from Eastleigh and Motherwell respectively.
Writer’s View
Exeter are set to sign another goalkeeper to add to their ranks ahead of the new campaign, with the expected signing of Sinisalo bolstering up the goalkeeping ranks at the club, with experienced shot-stopper Gary Woods and 18-year-old Harry Lee the only two goalkeepers at the club.
I think overall it’s a good piece of business if the deal comes to fruition. Sinisalo is still a young lad still learning his trade amongst the English game but following that brief loan spell at Burton Albion, he’d of sure to have learnt a lot. I think it’s a smart move on the whole.
