Aapo Halme
{{short description|Finnish footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aapo Halme
| image = Aapo Halme.jpg
| caption = Halme with HJK with 2017
| fullname = Aapo Ilmari Halme{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2017-18.pdf |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United |publisher=English Football League |page=21 |accessdate=17 June 2018}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|5|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Helsinki, Finland
| height = 1.96m{{Cite web|url=http://www.tablesleague.com/teams/helsinki1/aapo_halme/|title = Aapo Halme career stats, height and weight, age}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2009–2015
| youthclubs1 = Honka
| years1 = 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.voetbalzone.nl/speler.asp?uid=346075|title=Aapo Halme - Nieuws, foto's en statistieken}}
| clubs1 = Honka
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = Klubi 04
| caps2 = 15
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2015–2018
| clubs3 = HJK
| caps3 = 29
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = Leeds United
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 0
| clubs5 = Barnsley
| years5 = 2019–2022
| caps5 = 55
| goals5 = 4
| clubs6 = HJK
| years6 = 2022–2024
| caps6 = 27
| goals6 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2013–2014
| nationalteam1 = Finland U16
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014
| nationalteam2 = Finland U17
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam3 = Finland U18
| nationalcaps3 = 9
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam4 = Finland U19
| nationalcaps4 = 7
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2017–2020
| nationalteam5 = Finland U21
| nationalcaps5 = 18
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 19 October 2024
| nationalteam-update = 23:00, 17 November 2020
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Team|HJK Helsinki}}
{{Medal|3rd|Veikkausliiga|2015}}
{{Medal|2nd|Finnish Cup|2016}}
{{Medal|2nd|Veikkausliiga|2016}}
{{Medal|1st|Finnish Cup|2017}}
{{Medal|1st|Veikkausliiga|2017}}
{{medalTeam|Leeds}}
{{Medal|3rd|EFL Championship|2019}}
}}
Aapo Ilmari Halme (born 22 May 1998) is a Finnish professional footballer who most recently played as a centre-back for Veikkausliiga club HJK. He has also represented the Finland national under-21 football team from 2017 to 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.palloliitto.fi/aapo-halme|title=Aapo Halme |accessdate=24 January 2020|publisher=Suomen Palloliitto|language=Finnish}} Halme was born in Helsinki, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for Honka, before signing with HJK Helsinki at age 17 in 2015.{{cite web | url = https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/899147/Leeds-United-News-Aapo-Halme-HJK-Helsinki-Transfer-January-EFL-Championship | title = Leeds news: Aapo Halme to complete Elland Road transfer in 'next few days'|newspaper = Daily Express | date = 2 January 2018 | accessdate = 24 January 2020}} He would go on to win the 2017 Veikkausliiga and 2016–17 Finnish Cup.
Formerly an international at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level. Halme was nominated to Finland´s preliminary UEFA Euro 2020 team{{cite web | url = https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallon-em-2021/a/27fa13b7-079a-47e6-a7af-03c95b87759a | title = Huuhkajien leiriryhmään uusi pelaaja |trans-title=A new player at the Eagle Owl´s training camp | language = fi | publisher = Iltalehti | date = 25 May 2021 | access-date = 15 August 2021}} but he did not make it to the final squad.
Club career
=Early career=
=HJK Helsinki=
The winners of the 2015 Finnish League Cup HJK Helsinki brought in Halme from Klubi-04 on a three-year deal expiring at the end of the 2018 season as stated in his contractual obligation.{{cite web|title=Aapo Halme ja HJK pitkään jatkosopimukseen |url=http://sportti.com/uutinen.asp?CAT=3-1&ID=304724|website=Sportti.com|accessdate=22 January 2017}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hjk.fi/artikkelit/miehet/aapo-halme-ja-hjk-pitkaan-jatkosopimukseen/ |title=Aapo Halme jatkaa Klubissa pitkällä sopimuksella |language=fi |trans-title=Aapo Halme and HJK enter into a long-term extension agreement |publisher=HJK |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=29 November 2021}}{{Cite web |url=http://urheiluuutiset.com/aapo-halme-jatkaa-klubissa-pitkalla-sopimuksella/ |title=Aapo Halme jatkaa Klubissa pitkällä sopimuksella |language=fi |trans-title=Aapo Halme will stay at the Club with a long contract |website=urheiluuutiset.com |date=2 January 2016 |access-date=20 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321081645/http://www.urheiluuutiset.com/aapo-halme-jatkaa-klubissa-pitkalla-sopimuksella/ |archive-date=21 March 2017}} He made 29 league appearances over three seasons with the club, scoring once.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
=Leeds United=
On 3 January 2018, Halme signed for Leeds United on a four-year contract for an unknown fee,{{cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/22813/aapo-halme-signs|title =Aapo Halme signs for Leeds United|date = 3 January 2018|accessdate = 3 January 2018|publisher=Leeds United F.C.}} reported to be around £500,000. He became the fourth Finnish player to sign for Leeds after Sebastian Sorsa, Mika Väyrynen and Mikael Forssell.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-whites-sign-up-finland-under-19s-centre-back-1-8937969|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=3 January 2018|accessdate=3 January 2018|title=Leeds United: Whites sign up Finland Under-19s centre-back|author=Lee Sobot}}
However, Halme picked up a serious foot injury during one of his first training sessions at Leeds in January, which was to rule him out for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-defender-aapo-halme-reveals-foot-injury-reason-absence-317561|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=20 March 2018|accessdate=29 November 2021|title=Leeds defender Aapo Halme reveals foot injury is reason for absence}} After nearly nine months out injured, on 27 August 2018, Halme made his first appearance for the club representing Leeds Under 23's against Queens Park Rangers' Development squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy-news/23747/under-23s-v-queens-park-rangers|publisher=Leeds United|date=27 August 2018|accessdate=7 September 2018|title=U23 report: Leeds United 1-1 Queens Park Rangers}} On 23 November 2018, Leeds' first-team head coach Marcelo Bielsa gave Halme special praise after returning from his long injury layoff.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/marcelo-bielsa-drops-aapo-halme-hint-with-defender-ready-to-make-long-awaited-leeds-united-debut-1-9459262|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=27 August 2018|accessdate=7 September 2018|title=Marcelo Bielsa drops Aapo Halme hint with defender 'ready' to make long-awaited Leeds United debut}} He made his debut the next day in the EFL Championship against Bristol City in a 2–0 win, after being named in the starting lineup after an injury to Pontus Jansson and long-term injuries to Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi.{{cite news |title=Leeds United vs Bristol City |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/24152/match-centre-leeds-united-v-bristol-city |publisher=Leeds United |date=24 November 2018 |accessdate=24 November 2018 }}
He scored his first goal for Leeds on 6 January 2019 during a 2–1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46713169 |title=QPR 2–1 Leeds United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2019 |accessdate=6 January 2019}}
Halme was regularly named as an unused substitute on the bench for the first team squad in the Championship, but still featured regularly for Carlos Corberán's under-23 side{{cite news |url=https://tbrfootball.com/true-leader-leeds-under-23-captain-hugo-diaz-impresses-the-fans-once-again/ |title='True leader' – Leeds under-23 captain Hugo Diaz impresses the fans once again |website=The Boot Room |date=12 March 2019 |accessdate=1 June 2019}} that won the 2018-19 Professional Development League Northern Section. They then became the national Professional Development League champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/carlos-corberan-on-what-the-future-can-hold-for-leeds-united-s-pdl-champions-1-9754577|date=7 May 2019|accessdate=15 May 2019|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|title=Carlos Corberan on what the future can hold for Leeds United's PDL champions}}
=Barnsley=
On 3 July 2019, Halme joined Championship club Barnsley for an undisclosed six-figure fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/25123/aapo-halme-makes-barnsley-move|date=3 July 2019|accessdate=3 July 2019|publisher=Leeds United F.C.|title=Aapo Halme makes Barnsley move}} He made his debut for Barnsley on 13 August in a EFL Cup match against Carlisle United.{{cite news|title='Send him back to Leeds' Barnsley fans fuming after Aapo Halme's nightmare debut in cup upset|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/aapo-halme-nightmare-barnsley-debut-16751328|access-date=15 August 2021|work=LeedsLive|date=14 August 2019}} He scored his first goal for Barnsley in a 2–2 draw with Derby County on 2 October 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49820871 |title=Barnsley 2-2 Derby County |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 October 2019 |accessdate=3 October 2019}}
=Return to HJK=
On 25 July 2022 it was announced that Halme had signed a contract with HJK until the end of 2024.{{cite web | url = https://www.hjk.fi/artikkelit/miehet/aapo-halme-pitkalla-sopimuksella-klubiin/ | title = Aapo Halme pitkällä sopimuksella Klubiin | trans-title=Aapo Halme has signed a long contract with Klubi | language = Finnish | publisher = HJK Helsinki | date = 25 July 2022 | accessdate = 25 November 2022}} He left the club after his contract expired at the end of November 2024.[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2024/12/02/aapo-halmeen-ja-hjkn-sopimus-paattyi-toppari-ei-ole-mukana-ainakaan-joulukuun-otteluissa Aapo Halmeen ja HJK:n sopimus päättyi - toppari ei ole mukana ainakaan joulukuun otteluissa], veikkausliiga.com, 2 December 2024
International career
=Finland youth teams=
Halme has represented Finland at U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels. He made his debut for Finland U21s on 8 June 2017 against Ukraine U21s. On 23 March 2019, Halme captained Finland U21 to an 8–3 victory against Norway U21.{{cite news |url=https://the72.co.uk/127457/leeds-united-defender-captains-international-side-huge-victory/ |title=Leeds United defender captains international side in huge victory|website=The72|date=23 March 2019 |accessdate=1 June 2019}}
=Finland first team=
Halme was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021 but he remained as an unused substitute.{{cite web | url = https://www.palloliitto.fi/jalkapallouutiset/aapo-halme-huuhkajien-mukaan | title = Aapo Halme Huuhkajien mukaan | trans-title = Aapo Halme joins the Eagle Owls | language = fi | publisher = Football Association of Finland | date = 25 May 2021 | access-date = 1 September 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 25 October 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Suomen Cup and FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Finnish League Cup and EFL League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Honka
|2014 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Klubi 04
|2015 |15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="4"|HJK
|2015 |Veikkausliiga |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016
|Veikkausliiga |14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="UEL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2017{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/aapo-halme/346075/ |title=A. Halme |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=29 November 2021}}
|Veikkausliiga |13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name="UEL"}} | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Leeds United
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|91708|2018|access-date=29 November 2021}} |4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Barnsley
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|91708|2019|access-date=29 November 2021}} |Championship |32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|91708|2020|access-date=29 November 2021}}
|Championship |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|91708|2021|access-date=29 November 2021}}
|Championship |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!55 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 4 | |
| rowspan="4"|HJK
|2022 |Veikkausliiga |2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name="UEL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2023
|Veikkausliiga |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7{{efn|name="UCEL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2024
|Veikkausliiga |18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Conference League|name=ucel}} | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 43 | 3 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!131 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 161 | 9 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{portal|Biography|Association football|Finland}}
- [https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/59479/info Aapo Halme] – SPL competition record
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halme, Aapo}}
Category:Footballers from Helsinki
Category:Finnish men's footballers
Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Category:Finland men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Finnish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Finland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Barnsley F.C. players