Montreal Impact’s very unimpressive 2017 season, needs to be forgotten almost straight-away as they look for a fresh start in 2018. This could very well be helped with the trade deal to bring in Jukka Raitala from Columbus Crew SC.
The 29-year-old left-back joins Impact Montreal from Columbus Crew in a trade that seen him first sign for new expansion side Los Angeles FC then he was traded for Raheem Edwards, to Impact Montreal in exchange for Laurent Ciman.
Jukka Raitala could be known as what’s called a journeyman footballer, with Impact Montreal being his 11 career club. Jukka Raitala has had stints with club’s such as Hoffenheim, Osasuna and Paderborn.
THE HISTORY“Jukka joins Columbus Crew SC as a talented defender with significant experience across European top-flight clubs and with the Finland national team,”
Columbus sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement released by the club. “We are pleased to welcome Jukka to Columbus and look forward to integrating him into our system for the 2017 campaign.”
Born in Kerava, Raitala linked up with Keravan Pallo-75’s academy at the age of 6 and made his professional debut for Klubi-04 in 2006.
On August 31st 2010, Raitala would join Hoffenheim, in a transfer deal that seen the likes of Bordeaux, Ajax, PSV etc all in the hunt for his signature.
On 15 March 2010, Raitala made his Bundesliga debut for Hoffenheim playing as a right defender against Werder Bremen. On 1 April 2010, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim signed him for four years.
On 28 July 2011, he was loaned again, this time to Osasuna in Spanish La Liga, with the Spaniards having an option to buy him for €1.25 million at the end of the season. On 28 August 2011, Raitala made his La Liga debut for Osasuna playing as a left defender against Atletico Madrid.
In 2015, Raitala played in Denmark. He signed a half year contract with FC Vestsjælland on a free transfer. The club ended below the relegation zone, but the Danish medias wrote that Raitala had been one of the best players in the club’s weakly half year.
In the Summer of 2015, Raitala signed for one more half year with AaB. Raitala began very well, and played the first three matches and created one assist. But later was it clear that the competition on the left back-position was to strong.
THE PROSPECTSWell one great prospect in Jukka Raitala’s favour is that Remi Garde the former Aston Villa manager and new Montreal Impact manager identified Jukka as a prospect to help bolster the Montreal defence for the upcoming campaign.
Also, Raitala knows Major League Soccer, having bedded in with Columbus Crew SC in the 2017 season, making 28 appearances out of 34 matches played for the Crew.
Raitala in terms of MLS Fantasy potential this season, based on last season’s price should come in at $4.5. He started last season at $5.0, but competition in the Columbus team was fierce and it seen the Finnish international drop down the pecking order behind Jonathan Mensah and Josh Williams.
Raitala will be looking to bounce back with his new team the Montreal Impact this term.
FURTHER REFERENCEJukka Raitala Wikipedia
Jukka Raitala Transfer Markt Page
Jukka Raitala rolls with his career
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