Dario Naamo
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dario Felix Naamo | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 14 May 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Finland | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right-back | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Dundee United | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| TiPS | |||||||||||||||||
| –2018 | KäPa | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2022 | Honka | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Honka II | 16 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Honka | 24 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | SJK | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | St. Pölten | 18 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Dundee United | 19 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Finland U15 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Finland U17 | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Finland U18 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Finland U19 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2026 | Finland U21 | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2026– | Iraq | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
Dario Felix Naamo (Arabic: داريو فيليكس نعمو; born 14 May 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United.[1][2][3] Born in Finland, he plays for the Iraq national team.
Early career
Naamo started playing football for Tikkurilan Palloseura (TiPS)[4] in Vantaa, before he moved to the renowned Käpylän Pallo (KäPa) youth academy in Helsinki.[5] 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.[6] On 5 September 2023, he extended his contract with Honka, signing "a new long-term deal", according to the club.[7] 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.[8]
SJK
After Honka was declared bankruptcy after the 2023 season,[9] it was announced that Naamo had signed a two-year deal with fellow Veikkausliiga club SJK on 27 November 2023.[10][11][12]
St. Pölten
On 9 September 2024, Naamo was loaned out to Austrian club SKN St. Pölten, with an obligation to buy.[13]
On 5 November, his move to St. Pölten was made permanent for a €200,000 fee.[14][15] 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.[16] However, on 14 August, Dundee United announced that they had signed with Naamo on a permanent basis on a three-year deal.[17]
International career
A regular Finnish youth international, Naamo has represented Finland at various youth national team levels.[18]
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.[19]
Naamo was part of the Finland U18 squad winning the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in June 2023.[20]
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.[21]
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.[22] 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.[23] On 19 May, Naamo was called-up to the Iraq national team preliminary training camp squad before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[24]
Personal life
Born in Finland to a Finnish mother and an Iraqi Kurdish father,[25] Naamo is also eligible to represent Iraq.[26] He holds a dual Finnish-Iraqi citizenship.[12] After Naamo was allegedly contacted by the Iraq Football Association,[27] he confirmed this in an interview in April 2024, and stated that his main goal was to represent Finland.[28]
Career statistics
- As of 25 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Honka Akatemia | 2022 | Kakkonen | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2023 | Kakkonen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| Honka | 2022 | Veikkausliiga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| Total | 24 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| SJK Seinäjoki | 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 21 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | |
| St. Pölten | 2024–25 | Austrian 2. Liga | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| Dundee United | 2025–26 | Scottish Premiership | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Career total | 95 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 4 | ||
- ↑ Includes Finnish Cup and Scottish Cup
- ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup and Scottish League Cup
Honours
Honka
- Finnish Cup runner-up: 2023
Finland U18
- Baltic Cup: 2023[29]
References
- ↑ "'Technically accomplished' Naamo joins United on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ↑ "FC Hongan Naamo nauttii pääsystä avaukseen - "Tuntui hyvältä saada enemmän vastuuta"". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish). 25 May 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ↑ "Dario Naamo jatkaa Hongassa - 18-vuotias puolustaja noussut jo nyt isoon rooliin". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish). 5 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ↑ "U19-pojat ja Wales kohtaavat Eerikkilän perjantai-illassa". Finnish FA (in Finnish). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ↑ Tulospalvelu Palloliitto
- ↑ HONKA VS. MARIEHAMN 1-1, soccerway
- ↑ Dario Naamo jatkaa Hongassa, Honka, 5 September 2023
- ↑ HONKA VS. OULU 5-0, soccerway
- ↑ Espoon sokki-ilmoitus mullistaa markkinan – Nämä pelaajat viedään käsistä, Iltalehti, Anssi Karjalainen, 19 November 2023
- ↑ Dario Naamo pukee ylleen Kerhon paidan, sjk.fi, 27 November 2023/
- ↑ SJK kaappasi todellisen timantin riveihinsä, sportti.com, 27 November 2023
- 1 2 Kova kaappaus! SJK hankki Veikkausliigan huippulupauksen, suomifutis.com, Eetu Ikola, 27 November 2023
- ↑ Dario Naamo siirtyy SJK:sta Itävaltaan, sjk.fi, 9 September 2024
- ↑ Dario Naamo pysyvästi Itävaltaan, sjk.fi, 5 November 2024
- ↑ Suomen huippulupaus siirtyy ulkomaille – Veikkausliiga-seura löi rahoiksi, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 September 2024
- ↑ Skotlannin liigaseura hankki suomalaispelaajan, Ilta-Sanomat, 4 July 2025
- ↑ DUNDEE UNITED TRIGGER OPTION TO BUY FOR DARIO NAAMO, dundeeunitedfc.co.uk, 14 August 2025
- ↑ Dario Naamo: "Pitää vaan joukkueena onnistua", Finnish FA, 15 October 2024
- ↑ EM-karsinnat U17-pojat MAAOTTELUT 2022, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto
- ↑ U18-pojat nimetty kesäkuun Baltic Cupiin, Football Association of Finland, 30 May 2023
- ↑ U19-pojat nimetty lokakuun EM-karsintaturnaukseen, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto, 25 September 2023
- ↑ Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty marraskuun otteluihin, Finnish FA/Palloliitto, 7 November 2023
- ↑ "FIFA Change of Association Platform". Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Suomen futislupaus valitsemassa Irakin – Palloliitto taistelee vastaan: ”Teemme kaikkemme”, Iltalehti, 8 May 2026
- ↑ Temple, Alan (8 July 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Dario Naamo reveals ex-Dundee United man's glowing endorsement that paved way to Tannadice". The Courier. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ↑ Suomen maajoukkue vaarassa menettää superlahjakkuutensa, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, Eetu Ikola, 20 February 2024
- ↑ Irakin maajoukkue yrittää kaapata suomalaisen superlupauksen – 18-vuotias kommentoi nyt tilannettaan, MTV Oy, mtvuutiset.fi, Eetu Ikola, 7 April 2024
- ↑ Finnish FA
External links
- Dario Naamo at Soccerway
- Dario Naamo at WorldFootball.net
- 2005 births
- Living people
- Iraqi men's footballers
- Iraq men's international footballers
- Finnish men's footballers
- Finland men's youth international footballers
- Finland men's under-21 international footballers
- Iraqi people of Finnish descent
- Finnish people of Iraqi descent
- Finnish people of Kurdish descent
- Kurdish people in Iraq
- 21st-century Iraqi sportsmen
- 21st-century Finnish sportsmen
- Men's association football defenders
- Kakkonen players
- Veikkausliiga players
- 2. Liga (Austria) players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- Tikkurilan Palloseura players
- Käpylän Pallo players
- FC Honka players
- Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho players
- SKN St. Pölten players
- Dundee United F.C. players
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Austria
- Expatriate men's footballers in Austria
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in Austria
- Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in the United Kingdom