MLS
Former Premier League star Teemu Pukki signs for Minnesota United
The 33-year-old Finland international will be a Designated Player in MLS and could provide crucial cutting edge.
MLS side Minnesota United have announced the signing of Teemu Puki from English side Norwich City.
The 33-year-old striker joins as a Designated Player with a contract running until June 2025. The club also has the option to extend his deal to December 2025.
Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath welcomed the addition of the Finnish international, saying that he could be “that goalscorer we have been craving ever since Christian Ramirez left.”
Who is Teemu Pukki?
Minnesota have one of the worst offensive records in MLS and only LA Galaxay and Colorado have scored fewer goals in 2023. At 33, Pukki is no longer the player that impressed so much for newly-promoted Norwich City in the Premier League, but his finishing abilities have never been in doubt.
“If you look at his record he’s scored at a high level at every team he’s played for,” Heath said. “His goalscoring record in the Premier League, the Championship and the Finnish National Team speaks for itself.”
In his five seasons with Norwich, Pukki scored at least 25 league goals on two occasions and managed a respectable 22 goals across his two Premier League campaigns.
He has also impressed at international level and is currently the all-time record scorer for Finland. Pukki scored ten time in the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championships to fire his side to a major international tournament for the first time in their history.
“With Teemu [Pukki], what we’re doing is we’re adding an incredible guy and an incredible pro, which is something that’s important to us,” aid Minnesota technical director Mark Watson. “On the field, it’s pretty simple: He’s an elite goal scorer.”