Teemu Pukki, born on 29 March 1990 in Finland, is a seasoned footballer who currently weaves his skills on the pitch for Minnesota United. A man of stature, Pukki stands at 5ft 10in (1.8m) and weighs around 12st 8lb (80kg). His kit is adorned with the number 22. In addition to his club affiliations, he has also graced the pitch representing his homeland, Finland.
Pukki's professional career kicked off in January 2006 when he joined Finnish Kakkonen side KooTeePee as a trainee. His first season, in 2006, saw him play four first team league matches. By the following season, his appearances increased to 23, and he added three goals to his profile.
In August 2008, he spread his wings beyond Finland's borders, transferring to Sevilla of LaLiga in Spain. The move saw a hefty sum of around £1.4 million change hands. However, his 2008 - 2009 season at Sevilla was marked by just a single first team appearance in league matches.
By August 2010, Pukki was back in Finland, transferred to HJK of the Veikkausliiga for a fee that still remains undisclosed. His spell at HJK was relatively productive, with 17 first team appearances and 11 goals in the 2011 season alone.
In August 2011, he transferred from HJK to Schalke 04 of 2. Bundesliga in Germany with his value holding steady at around £1.4 million. His tenure with Schalke 04 yielded a total of 37 first team appearances and eight goals from 2011 - 2014.
However, it was his tenure at Celtic in Scotland from 2013 – 2015 that commanded more attention. Pukki completed a switch to Celtic in August 2013 for a fee soaring up to around £3 million. In his debut season, he made 25 first team appearances and scored seven goals in league matches. The following season, however, was not as productive, and he was limited to just a solitary first team appearance.
In September 2014, Pukki was loaned to Danish Superliga side Brondby. The loan spell was a fruitful one, with Pukki featuring in 27 first team appearances and scoring nine goals in his first season. This was followed by a permanent transfer to Brondby in July 2015 for a fee of around £600,000. Across four seasons, Pukki played well over a hundred games and scored 44 goals.
Pukki made another significant move in July 2018, transferring to Norwich City in the English Championship. His spell at Norwich City was marked by impressive scoring exploits, predominantly in the 2018 - 2019 season where he completed 43 first team appearances and scored a staggering 29 goals. His consistent performances continued till the 2022 - 2023 season.
In July 2023, he journeyed across the Atlantic to join Minnesota United in the USA. He made a striking start by netting ten goals in the first 14 first team appearances during the 2023 season. He continues to play for Minnesota United in the current 2024 season, having made 21 appearances and scored four goals so far.
His performance in the MLS 2024 for Minnesota United has been commendable. He's managed to slot in four goals in what accounts for 11 starts and ten appearances as a substitute.
