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Fullname: Viljami Kari Veikko Sinisalo
aka: Viljami Sinisalo
Born: 11 October 2001
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Signed: 16 July 2024 (£1m from Aston Villa)
Left: –
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut (Friendly): DC United 0-4 Celtic, Friendly, 21 Jul 2024
Debut: Celtic 5-0 Raith Rovers, Scottish Cup, 8 Feb 2025
Squad No.: 12
Internationals: Finland
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
Viljamie Sinisalo arrived at Celtic as a young Finnish goalkeeper, as an understudy to learn from Kasper Schmeichel at Celtic who had arrived at the same time. The aim was in time for the elder to pass on the gloves to Sinisalo. Arriving from Aston Villa where he had not appeared even once for their first team in the major competitions, most of his time was spent across sides on loan (Ayr Utd, Burton Albion and Exeter City), and caught the eye after he had won Player of the Season awards at Exeter. He had also won caps for his national side, so he had a decent upward protectory.
At Celtic, his task was simply to learn the ropes and be patient which if anything must have been a big gamble for the young keeper, but at least he had a good mentor to learn from. Annoyingly, he was out injured for what should have been his first outting for Celtic’s first team, and so further delayed his debut. Celtic were going through an excellent phase at this time, with Schemichel winning praises, so opportunities were scarce.
However, away on International duty Schmeichel suffered a nasty shoulder injury, providing Sinisalo finally with a chance of a run of games. Celtic were heading for the treble, having already won the league cup and way too far ahead in the league too, but the Scottish Cup was still there to be played for.
Sinisalo finally won a run of games with the Celtic first team after Schmeichel was out following an injury during international duty. Stepping up for the final run of games in season 2024/25, he proved his ability and kept various clean sheets. By this point in the season, Celtic had already won the league title and were on course with the treble, so the pressure was less on, and when it came to the defence, the combination of the players in front of Sinisalo were more a concern than the goalkeeper himself! If anything, Sinisalso has proven himself capable and deserving of a first team place.
Young, confident & assured, he was part of a plan for the longer term and was clearly learning from the more experienced Schmeichel. Some even opined that he deserved to continue in the first team even once Schmeichel returned from injury. In the Scottish Cup final defeat (v Aberdeen, May 2025), with Schmeichel having a poor day despite having been little tested on the day, it added to the sympathisers for Sinisalo.
Season 2025/26
Throughout much of the season, Sinisalo seemed almost dismissed by all the managers in a tumultuous campaign that saw four different managerial spells. This didn’t help him, as he had to repeatedly prove himself to each new incumbent.
As the season wore on, many began to comment on just how poor Sinisalo must be if he couldn’t even displace an out-of-form, overweight, and injury-prone Schmeichel. With his lack of game time, it became public that he wanted to leave in order to secure more playing opportunities.
However, the declining situation with Schmeichel could not continue indefinitely. Calls for him to be dropped grew louder with every error (and there were many), though some still doubted whether Sinisalo was the answer.
He had featured in various matches during the season, including a rare accolade: playing in a match during the disastrous Wilfried Nancy era and maintaining a 100% record, having played in the 4-2 win v Livingston (Dec 2025).
He appeared in several games after Martin O’Neill’s return as interim manager, but it wasn’t until late February that he finally began to play regularly, starting with a 1-0 victory v Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup. It was a tough assignment, but he won plaudits for his performance from the manager:
“[Sinisalo] played brilliantly in the game, really well. That’s the name all round the dressing room. He’s got plenty of talent.”
Martin O’Neill
It was later in the season, after a 2-1 league win v Aberdeen (Mar 2026), that the then-interim manager (Martin O’Neill) and the rest of the support were convinced that Sinisalo was now the main man for the No. 1 jersey. A world-class save in this match, using all his agility and fast reflexes to direct a shot over the bar, demonstrated what everyone believed Schmeichel, in his current state, would have floundered.
From then on, he was the unchallenged No. 1, with the added issue that Schmeichel had to end his time prematurely due to required surgery.
Celtic were well behind in the odds for silverware at the outset, so it was a case of all hands on deck. The defence was often criticised—and rightly so—but it was clear there was greater comfort with Sinisalo in goal. Through sheer doggedness and grit, under Martin O’Neill, the team turned things around to incredibly and inexplicably win the league and Scottish Cup double!
Sinisalo could take pride in his part, especially as Hearts, Rangers, and Motherwell were incredibly tough opposition this season. It was never easy, and in fact, he only kept three clean sheets from all his games since taking ownership of the No. 1 jersey in late February. Under pressure he made many great saves to help keep Celtic in the hunt for the league title.
A notable point was his gamesmanship when riling up TheRangers players during the penalty shootout in the Scottish Cup which had the intended reaction. He was unlucky not to save two penalties during the shootout, but Celtic still won comfortably.
He still had a lot to work on in his game. Sinisalo proved himself a decent shot-stopper, with a decent command of his area and a great range of distribution, though he still needed further experience. Regardless, he deserved praise for his efforts in the dramatic season just past, and perhaps this taste of success had now instilled some good habits in him:
“The winning feeling is addictive. It’s something that, once you experience it, you just want more.”
Viljami Sinisalo (May 2026)
[…]
Quotes
“It feels amazing. It’s been on the cards for a little while and it’s finally nice to get it done.”
Viljami Sinisalo (Jul 2024)
“There was something about the kid. His professionalism was off the charts.”
The Athletic Magazine Article (2024)
“Absolutely! It’s what you want to do. It’s what every footballer wants to do. You want to play for a club like this and in front of 60,000 people. So, you never take it for granted. It’s brilliant. I don’t know for sure but it’s probably the biggest crowd that I’ve played in front of in my career. And you just want more of that. You get that little sniff of it and you want more. You want to do that every week. It can be hard to hear yourself even shouting. I’m trying to scream to my centre-halves to do certain things and they probably can’t hear anything! So, little moments you get where you can go closer to them and speak to them, you’ve got to take them. But, yeah, the atmosphere again was brilliant. The fans really helped us again. So, yeah, hopefully many more like that to come.”
Sinisalo after his league debut 3-0 v Hearts (Mar 2025)
“I watched him when I was younger and he was one of the goalies I idolised when I grew up. “He’s been brilliant with me and we’ve got a great working relationship, always have done. I’m there to help him and he’s there to help me. “I do want to play, everyone does. That’s what football is and how it should be. The more chances you have the better, and I’m glad I got my chance today. Whatever follows is not up to me. “It’s another game coming up. If the manager decides to put me in, great, I’m ready for it. That’s not my decision. I can only go out there and play my best.”
Sinisalo (Feb 2026)
‘The winning feeling is addictive. It’s something that, once you experience it, you just want more.’
Viljami Sinisalo (May 2026)
–
Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2024-25 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Shut-outs | |||||
| 2025-26 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
| Shut-outs | |||||
| 2026-27 | |||||
| Shut-outs | |||||
| 2027-28 | |||||
| Shut-outs | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Shut-outs |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- 2024-25, 2025-26, […]
Scottish Cup
- 2025-26, […]
Scottish League Cup
- 2024-25, […]
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Notes
Articles
What Aston Villa said about Viljami Sinisalo as Celtic told they have a ‘real talent’
https://www.67hailhail.com/news/what-aston-villa-said-about-viljami-sinisalo-as-celtic-told-they-have-a-real-talent/
Tue 1 April 2025 19:40
Patrick Sinat
Viljami Sinisalo was signed by Brendan Rodgers last summer for Celtic.
With Joe Hart’s retirement came a conundrum of who the Celtic manager was going to turn to to take over the reins from the treble-winning Hoops keeper.
As it turned out, Kasper Schmeichel was given that task with Viljami Sinisalo being brought in as the backup Celtic goalkeeper.
So far, Schmiechel has done a great job for the Hoops this season with 19 clean sheets, and as Sinisalo helped Hearts draw a blank at Celtic Park, Rodgers has been told he has signed a ‘real talent’.
Alan Hutton has ‘heard good things’ about Celtic’s Viljami Sinisalo from Aston Villa
Former Aston Villa man Alan Hutton has shared what people at his former club and the fans thought about Sinisalo’s decision to leave for Celtic, as he says Brendan Rodgers has his future number one.
Hutton told The Scottish Football Social Club [34m], “I always knew he was a good goalkeeper because I’ve heard good things about him from obviously Aston Villa.
“Look, I genuinely think so [at becoming Celtic’s number one choice]. Look Kasper Schmeichel came in and did really well, so at this moment in time, he’ll still be the number one.
“But Sinalo I think they [Aston Villa] were looking at him, and I thought there were a few of the fans that were a little bit unhappy with him leaving.
“Not that he was going to go out and dislodge Martinez but I think for the future or whatever or moving forward there could have been an opportunity for him.”
Sinisalo has ‘all the attributes’ to be a ‘real good goalkeeper’ at Celtic
At just 23, Sinisalo still has plenty of time to develop, but Hutton also believes that with the talent he has right now, he’s just going to keep getting better and better at Celtic.
Hutton continued, “So I think he’s got all the attributes. He’s a good size. I think he’s calm with the ball, he makes good saves, as we’ve seen.
“I think moving forward he’s only going to get better. So when he starts to play and he’s going week from week I think that’s when you see the real talent and the real player coming through, and he’ll grow and evolve.
“So yeah, I think they’ve got a real good goalkeeper there.”
With Celtic’s next fixture against St Johnstone on Sunday and then Kilmarnock the following Saturday, Sinisalo has done his chances of retaining the jersey no harm with his performance against Hearts.
But with a potential treble on the line, the likelihood is that Rodgers will reinstate Schmeichel when he is fit, but at least Celtic fans know that if and when he is called upon, Sinisalo has shown that he is more than capable to be trusted between the sticks.
Sinisalo’s outstanding save settles Martin’s gloves dilemma
By justanordinarybhoy 6 March, 2026
Viljami Sinisalo has started the last three games, due to Kasper Schmeichel’s combination of ‘illness and injury’ – take your pick – and the Finnish international has more than proved that he’s capable of being the full time number one at Celtic.
Three massive games saw Sinisalo come through with flying colours
Three fixtures that were at tough away venues, and the big Finn showed his ability, coming through each test with flying colours.
Kasper has been a brilliant goalkeeper in his day, and still is to an extent, but his best days are clearly behind him. Viljami at 24 is much younger, more agile and extremely eager to prove himself in the game. More importantly he has the ability to go far in the game and could be a sellable asset down the line after a few seasons starting for the Hoops.
Viljami Sinisalo celebrates
The stunning save Sinisalo produced at Pittodrie
One moment that highlights the difference in both keepers, and one that could prove ever so vital come the end of the season was the stunning save the Finn produced at Pittodrie on Wednesday evening.
It arrived at a vital moment in the game, not long after the restart of the second period, and if scored would have given the home side an almighty lift, but the big Finn showed great ability to direct Kevin Nesbit’s goal bound header the ball over the bar. It was quite simply a stunning save.
Had Kasper been in goals, then I reckon that the outcome would have been much different.
It was a header bound for the left hand side of the goal, and we all know that is Kasper’s weak point. The second goal at Kilmarnock and the two soft Stuttgart goals at Celtic Park point to a problem with fitness, that cannot be overlooked. If Martin O’Neill continued to turn a blind eye to that issue he would be doing Celtic a disservice and he doesn’t need me to tell him that.
Viljami has done more than enough to keep the gloves
Viljami in my opinion, has done more than enough to take possession of the gloves until the end of the season. After that a new manager will make his own decisions.
Sinisalo is a decent shot stopper, he commands his area, he possesses a great range of distribution, and more importantly of all, he instils confidence in the defence in front of him. he can cope with the intensity and the hatred at Ibrox, he’s been there twice as Celtic goalkeeper and has done fine on both occasions.
He should be back in the starting line-up this Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter final at Ibrox.
It’s all down to Martin O’Neill
It’s all down to Martin O’Neill of course, but for me Viljami is the best goalkeeper at the club, and he deserves the chance at making the position his own. Nobody can be guaranteed his place in the team, not even a legendary footballing figure like Kasper Schmeichel.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
[….]