Ilmari Niskanen

Ilmari Niskanen
Personal information
Full name Ilmari Matias Niskanen[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-27) 27 October 1997
Place of birth Kiuruvesi, Finland
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Blackpool
Number 21
Youth career
Kiuruveden Palloilijat[4]
–2013 PK-37
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2020 KuPS 154 (18)
2013 → PK-37 (loan) 22 (9)
2014 → KuFu-98 7 (0)
2014 → PK-37 (loan) 1 (0)
2017 → KuFu-98 1 (1)
2020–2021 FC Ingolstadt 20 (0)
2021–2023 Dundee United 53 (2)
2023–2026 Exeter City 119 (5)
2026– Blackpool 0 (0)
International career‡
Finland U17
2015 Finland U19[2] 3 (0)
2017–2018 Finland U21 6 (0)
2020– Finland 23 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:54, 8 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 17 November 2024

Ilmari Matias Niskanen (born 27 October 1997) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a left winger and wing back for EFL League One club Blackpool and the Finland national team.[5]

Club career

Born in Kiuruvesi,[2] Niskanen spent his youth years with PK-37 in Iisalmi, before starting his professional career in 2013 in a nearby town Kuopio with Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS).[6] In the 2019 Veikkausliiga season, Niskanen helped the club to win its first Finnish championship title in 43 years.[7] He was also named the Veikkausliiga Player of the Month in August 2019[8] and in July 2020.[3]

In September 2020, Niskanen signed for German club FC Ingolstadt for a transfer fee of €350,000.[9][10]

In August 2021, Niskanen had a transfer to Scottish Premiership club Dundee United, which was initially delayed due to work permit issues,[11] before eventually completing on 20 August 2021.[12] The transfer fee was reported to be €350,000.[13]

On 15 August 2023, Niskanen signed for League One club Exeter City for an undisclosed fee.[14] On 29 April 2024, Niskanen was named the Exeter City Community Champion in the club's end of season awards.[15] On 15 May 2024, his deal was extended until June 2026.[16] He was named the Exeter City Player of the Month in October 2024.[17] At the end of the 2024–25 season, Niskanen received an award from Exeter City's supporters for his extensive interaction in the fan-zone area throughout the season.[18]

He was released by Exeter at the end of the 2025–26 season.[19]

On 27 June 2026, he joined Blackpool on a two-year contract with the option of a further year, from 1 July.[20][21]

International career

Niskanen represented Finland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 youth levels,[22] before making his senior international debut in 2020.[23]

On 10 September 2024, in a 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B away match against England, Niskanen was humiliated by the national team head coach Markku Kanerva, by substituting him in for the second half to a wrong position for his expertise. Later Finland conceded goals directly due to Niskanen's errors and eventually lost the game 2–0.[24][25][26]

Personal life

On 19 February 2025, it was reported that Niskanen had been caught by English police while driving under the influence of alcohol earlier in February.[27] On 24 February, he was fined £2,885 and banned from driving for 18 months, by the Exeter Magistrates Court.[28]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 August 2026[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
KuPS 2013 Veikkausliiga 100000——10
2014 Veikkausliiga 410000——41
2015 Veikkausliiga 2011000——211
2016 Veikkausliiga 2501000——260
2017 Veikkausliiga 32162———383
2018 Veikkausliiga 33464—2[c]0—418
2019 Veikkausliiga 26551—4[c]0—356
2020 Veikkausliiga 13651—2[d]0—207
Total 1541824800800018626
PK-37 (loan) 2013 Kakkonen 22920———249
KuFu-98 (loan) 2014 Kakkonen 70–———70
2015 Kolmonen 00———1[e]010
Total 700000001080
PK-37 (loan) 2014 Kakkonen 10————10
KuFu-98 (loan) 2017 Kakkonen 11————11
FC Ingolstadt 2020–21 3. Liga 20000———200
2021–22 2. Bundesliga 0010———10
Total 20010000000210
Dundee United 2021–22[29] Scottish Premiership 3313000——361
2022–23[30] Scottish Premiership 20120002[f]0—241
2023–24[31] Scottish Championship 000010——10
Total 53250102000612
Exeter City 2023–24[31] League One 3300010—1[g]0350
2024–25[32] League One 4023010—1[g]0452
2025–26[33] League One 4633000—3[g]0523
Total 1195602000501325
Blackpool 2026–27 League One 000010—0010
Career total 37735388401006043543
  1. ↑ Includes Suomen Cup, DFB-Pokal, Scottish Cup and FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup, Scottish League Cup and EFL League Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ One appearance in the UEFA Champions League and one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Regions' Cup
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 17 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year[23]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Finland 202061
202110
202260
202330
202470
Total231
Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Niskanen goal[23]
List of international goals scored by Ilmari Niskanen
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
17 October 2020Stadion Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland2 Poland1–31–5Friendly[34]

Honours

KuPS

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 17th May 2025" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ilmari Niskanen". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "KuPS:n Ilmari Niskanen kuukauden pelaajaksi". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish).
  4. ↑ "Ilmari Niskanen pelasi taas täydet minuutit – sai 20 maaottelua täyteen". kiuruvesilehti.fi (in Finnish). 10 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Tilastot | Niskanen, Ilmari" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Tulospalvelu Palloliitto" (in Finnish). Finnish FA.
  7. ↑ "Tässä on Veikkausliigan kauden 2019 mestarijoukkue! IS esittelee kulta-KuPSin pelaaja pelaajalta". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 19 October 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Ilmari Niskanen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja". JPY (in Finnish). 11 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "Ilmari Niskanen kommt auf die Schanz". fcingolstadt.de (in German).
  10. ↑ Nordström, Joakim (23 September 2021). ""On aina valtava kunnia päästä edustamaan Suomea": Ilmari Niskanen uskoo pääsevänsä takaisin Huuhkajien vahvuuteen piakkoin". suomifutis.com (in Finnish).
  11. ↑ Woodger, Calum (16 August 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Work permit holding up Ilmari Niskanen transfer as Dundee United agree deal for Finnish winger". The Courier.
  12. ↑ "Dundee United sign internationals Dylan Levitt & Ilmari Niskanen". BBC Sport. 20 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Nordström, Joakim (23 September 2021). ""On aina valtava kunnia päästä edustamaan Suomea": Ilmari Niskanen uskoo pääsevänsä takaisin Huuhkajien vahvuuteen piakkoin". suomifutis.com (in Finnish).
  14. ↑ "Exeter sign Niskanen from Dundee United". BBC Sport. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  15. 1 2 "23/24 Awards: The Winners". exetercityfc.co.uk. 29 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "Ilmari Niskanen pens contract extension". exetercityfc.co.uk. 15 May 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Ilmari Niskanen Named Your RGB Recruitment Player Of The Month!". exetercityfc.co.uk. 4 November 2024.
  18. ↑ "Ilmari Niskasella loistopäivä – palkinto, maali ja voitto". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). 26 April 2025.
  19. ↑ "Exeter City retained list: Ilmari Niskanen & Josh Magennis depart". BBC Sport. 7 May 2026.
  20. ↑ https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2026/june/27/ilmari-niskanen-signs-for-the-pool/, Ilmari Niskanen Signs For The Pool, Blackpool FC, 27 June 2026
  21. ↑ "Dion Charles and Ilmari Niskanen: Blackpool sign duo for 2026-27". BBC Sport. 27 June 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Ilmari Niskanen at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 "Ilmari Niskanen". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Huuhkajatuomio: Suomen floppipelaajaa nöyryytettiin Lontoon illassa". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 11 September 2024.
  25. ↑ "Englanti rankaisi Huuhkajia vaihtopelaajan virheistä – asiantuntija tyrmäsi Markku Kanervan perustelut". Yle (in Finnish). 11 September 2024.
  26. ↑ ""Immulla oli vähän vaikeuksia" – Markku Kanerva perusteli Ilmari Niskasen vaihtoa Ylelle". suomifutis.com (in Finnish). 11 September 2024.
  27. ↑ "Maajoukkueessa pelannut Ilmari Niskanen jäi kiinni rattijuopumuksesta Englannissa". Yle. 19 February 2025.
  28. ↑ "Exeter City footballer says he'll take a bus to training after being banned from driving". ITV.com. 24 February 2025.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Ilmari Niskanen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Ilmari Niskanen in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Games played by Ilmari Niskanen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Ilmari Niskanen in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Ilmari Niskanen in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Poland 5-1 Finland (7 Oct, 2020) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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