Scouting Report: Topi Keskinen

One of the most exciting prospects currently playing in Finland is 21 year old left winger, Topi Keskinen. Keskinen joined Finnish giants HJK Helsinki in January of 2023 from recently promoted 2nd division side, MP Mikkeli. Keskinen is under contract to wear the blue and white jersey of HJK until December of 2025.

The Nordic countries are an underrated market for talent, with clubs all over the world signing high quality footballers at affordable prices. Let’s take a look at Keskinen, a high potential young winger, who would be a great fit for clubs around the world looking to sign a great player at an affordable price.

Player Name: Topi Keskinen

Date of Birth: March 7 2003

Height: 1.80 Metres (5 feet, 11 inches)

Citizenship: Finland

Position: Left Winger

Preferred Foot: Both

Current Club: HJK Helsinki

Contract Expiration: December 31 2025

Market Value: 1.20 Million Euros

Immediately when watching Keskinen what stands out to me the most is his speed, and his dribbling. When he is on the ball, he will utilize his quick speed to manuever around opponents with ease, and create opportunities to score.

When it comes to Keskinen and his dribbling, he is incredibly versatile. The fact that he is comfortable playing the ball with both of his feet has allowed for him to use his dribbling skills to his advantage. When he is close to creating chances, he is capable of dribbling around or through his opponents to convert.

When Keskinen has opportunities to shoot, he is more than capable of using both feet to put the ball in the back of the net. He will typically shoot with his left foot, putting the ball in the far right corner of the goal, thus causing the goalkeeper to dive. His usage of unconventional angles creates additional chances to put the ball in the back of the net more often.

Keskinen isn’t overtly tall compared to other players and he uses that to his advantage. His muscular frame has proved to be a great advantage for him when he is faced by multiple defenders. He is confident in using his body to manuever around defenders in tight situations to convert chances. Keskinen’s physical reaction time is another asset that he has. When facing defenders, he is instantaneously able to adapt and overcome his targets.

Keskinen’s tactical understanding is quite sound in my opinion. He knows his place as a winger, and fits well into the HJK squad. Embodying the classic Finnish trait of Humility, Keskinen isn’t overly showy in his style of play. A team first player, he has shown time and time again when to make the right moves regarding the flow of play. In addition to being an incredible finisher, Keskinen is also a master in ball movement. When HJK have spurred transition, Keskinen has been the engine of the attack. Passing the ball to teammates at the exact time, with enough leeway to for them to receive the ball at max velocity, thus setting HJK up for the best chance to score possible.

There’s one thing that stands out to me the most when watching Keskinen play football. He is a COMPETITOR. In all of the match film that I watched regarding Keskinen, he was consistently the hardest working player on the field, one that truly embodies the mentality of playing for the badge. A moment as simple as a goal celebration tells me everything I need to know about his footballing mentality. Keskinen is often seen celebrating with his teammates, because that’s who he is. Football is a sport full of egos, and when a player such as Keskinen is a piece of the puzzle that makes HJK such a successful team, it is good for team culture and mentality all around. He embodies who Finnish footballers are, humble, hard working, and the ultimate team competitor.

Keskinen is an interesting player to watch, simply because you know that when you watch him he hasn’t hit his peak. Playing the way that he is at 21 years of age is a sign that he will do well over the course of his Football career. In my opinion, in order for Keskinen to fully develop into a mature, football intelligent player, he will have to go try a new challenge elsewhere. I project that Keskinen will stay in Helsinki for the remainder of his contract and then depart for a new project abroad.

Regarding where Keskinen could end up, I see a myriad of options working for him. If he wanted to go to a league where he would have experienced Finnish players to mentor him, I could see a stint in Major League Soccer in his future. (MLS currently has 8 Finns playing across the league at 6 different clubs.) I could also see Keskinen staying in Europe, and playing in a country like the Netherlands. If Keskinen were to make a stop in Holland, I could see him playing for a club like Feyenoord or AZ. A club like FC Midtyjlland also makes sense for Keskinen, simply because of their commitment to talent development.

Overall, Keskinen is a player who hasn’t hit his peak. As someone who exhibits massive talent potential at such a young age, he is definitely one to keep an eye on for the future of Football.

With the Nordic countries being an underlooked market in terms of global talent identification across the world, I believe that clubs should spend more time in these markets. Across the Nordics, clubs will find players who are affordable, who are hard working, and who are incredibly tough football players. If anyone has any desire to chat about the talent in the Nordic countries, please reach out to me via LinkedIn or Twitter if you would like to schedule a time to talk.

If you enjoyed this read, please feel free to reach out. I appreciate any feedback!