Jimi Weikko Tauriainen (born 8 March 2004) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Premier League club Chelsea.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jimi Weikko Tauriainen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Helsinki, Finland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
| Number | 42 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2016 | FC Wild | ||
| 2016–2020 | HJK | ||
| 2020–2024 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Chelsea | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Finland U15 | 3 | (2) |
| 2019 | Finland U16 | 6 | (4) |
| 2022 | Finland U18 | 2 | (1) |
| 2022 | Finland U19 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 May 2024 | |||
Club career
editBorn in Helsinki, Tauriainen began his footballing career with academy side FC Wild, a club his father had been involved in creating, at the age of five.[2][3] He joined professional outfit HJK in 2016, before trialling with Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan, as well as English side Chelsea in 2020.[4][5]
In March 2020, shortly after his sixteenth birthday, HJK announced on their website that Tauriainen would join Chelsea in July of the same year, following his successful trial.[6] Initially a forward during his time in Finland, he was converted to a midfielder at Chelsea.[7]
He signed his first professional contract with The Blues on his seventeenth birthday, before extending this contract four months later, in July 2021.[8][9]
On 25 February 2024, Tauriainen was named in the Chelsea first team squad in the League Cup final against Liverpool but remained an unused substitute.[10] He made his senior debut three days later, coming on as a late substitute for Mykhailo Mudryk in the FA Cup fifth round match against Leeds United. [11] On 2 May 2024, Tauriainen made his first appearance in Premier League, as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Tottenham.[12]
International career
editTauriainen has represented Finland from under-15 to under-19 level.[1]
Personal life
editTauriainen hails from a footballing family; his father, Pasi, is a former international for Finland, while his brother, Julius, currently plays for Finnish side Lahti.[2] His uncles, Kimmo and Vesa, are also former footballers.[2]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 2 May 2024[13]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Chelsea | 2023–24 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy
Honours
editChelsea
References
edit- ^ a b c d Jimi Tauriainen at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c "Suomalainen futislupaus solmi ammattilaissopimuksen Chelsean kanssa" [The Finnish football star signed a professional contract with Chelsea]. mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 9 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Korvenkari, Mikko (29 April 2020). "RoPS-legenda Pasi Tauriainen hengittää yhä jalkapalloa – Juuri nyt silmäteränä ovat ammattilaiseksi siirtyvät omat pojat" [RoPS legend Pasi Tauriainen still breathes football – Right now, the focus is on his own sons who are turning professional]. lapinkansa.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 December 2022. (subscription required)
- ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (10 March 2020). "Chelsea beat Juventus & Inter to sign 16-year-old Finland ace Tauriainen". goal.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Chatterjee, Sayan (10 March 2020). "Jimi Tauriainen poses with Frank Lampard in Chelsea shirt as Blues reportedly seal move for Finnish starlet". tribuna.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "HJK:n Jimi Tauriainen siirtyy Chelsean riveihin" [HJK's Jimi Tauriainen moves to Chelsea]. hjk-j.fi (in Finnish). 10 March 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "Jimi Tauriainen uudessa roolissa Chelseassa – "Koen, että vahvuuteni pääsevät esiin keskellä"" [Jimi Tauriainen in a new role at Chelsea - "I feel that my strengths come out in the middle"]. palloliitto.fi (in Finnish). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Tuominen, Mico (9 March 2021). "Virallista! Hyökkääjälupaus Jimi Tauriainen solmi ammattilaissopimuksen Chelsean kanssa" [Official! Forward promise Jimi Tauriainen signed a professional contract with Chelsea]. valioliiga.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Tuominen, Mico (7 July 2021). "Virallista! Hyökkääjälupaus Jimi Tauriainen, 17, allekirjoitti uuden sopimuksen Chelsean kanssa" [Official! Forward promise Jimi Tauriainen, 17, signed a new contract with Chelsea]. valioliiga.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Jimi Tauriainen, 19, Chelsean vaihtopenkillä liigacupin finaalissa, Yle, 25 February 2024
- ^ "Match Report: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds". www.chelseafc.com. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ Chelsean Jimi Tauriainen, 20, debytoi Valioliigassa, Helsingin Sanomat, 3 May 2024
- ^ Jimi Tauriainen at Soccerway
- ^ McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Carabao Cup final: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
External links
edit- Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website