Kai Meriluoto

Kai Meriluoto (born 2 January 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ekstraklasa club Stal Mielec, on loan from HJK.[2]

Kai Meriluoto
Meriluoto with Finland U21 in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003
Place of birth Siuntio, Finland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Stal Mielec (on loan from HJK)
Number 42
Youth career
KyIF[1]
HJK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Klubi 04 51 (28)
2020– HJK 17 (3)
2022 → Ilves (loan) 25 (10)
2023– → Stal Mielec (loan) 23 (2)
International career‡
2018–2019 Finland U16 5 (2)
2019–2020 Finland U17 11 (5)
2021 Finland U19 7 (1)
2021 Finland U20 1 (1)
2022– Finland U21 15 (2)
2023– Finland 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024

Early life

Meriluoto was born in Siuntio, Finland,[3] to a Japanese mother and Finnish father. When he was a one-year-old, he moved to Vienne, Isère, France, with his family and lived there for five years before returning to Finland. Meriluoto lived in China from when he was ten years old until he was twelve years old. He has dual citizenship of Finland and Japan, and he speaks Finnish, Japanese, French and English fluently. Meriluoto has an older brother, Aki, who is also a footballer and plays for US Lesquin at the semi-pro level in France.[4]

Club career

Ilves (loan)

On 15 February 2022, Meriluoto joined Veikkausliiga club Ilves on loan for the 2022 season.[5] He finished his first full season in the league scoring ten goals for the team. After the season, he returned to HJK.

Return to HJK

In April 2023, he extended his contract with HJK until the end of 2025.[6]

Stal Mielec (loan)

On 14 July 2023, Meriluoto joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Stal Mielec on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent.[2][7] He scored his first Ekstraklasa goal on 18 September 2023, a header in a 4–2 home win against Zagłębie Lubin.[8] On 9 December 2023, in a match against Cracovia, Meriluoto made a crucial impact after coming in from the bench, when his team was in a 2–0 losing position. He first scored the 2–1 goal on the 86th minute, and one minute later provided an assist to the equalizer. The game eventually ended in a 2–2 draw.[9] During his loan stint, Meriluoto was mainly used as a late substitute, starting only two of his 23 Ekstraklasa appearances.[10]

Career statistics

Club
As of 11 May 2024[11][12]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Klubi 04 2019 Kakkonen 12712——139
2020 Kakkonen 151410——1614
2021 Ykkönen 24731——278
Total 51285300005631
HJK 2020 Veikkausliiga 3100——31
2021 Veikkausliiga 0000—0000
2022 Veikkausliiga 0000000000
2023 Veikkausliiga 142115200205
Total 173115200236
Ilves (loan) 2022 Veikkausliiga 25101032—2912
Stal Mielec (loan) 2023–24 Ekstraklasa 23231——263
Career total 11643105840013450

    International
    As of match played on 12 January 2023.
    National teamYearCompetitive Friendly Total
    Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
    Finland 202300 2 0 2 0
    Total 0 0 2 0 2 0

      References
      1. Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty marraskuun otteluihin, Finnish FA, 7 November 2023
      2. "Kai Meriluoto lainalle Puolan pääsarjaan". hjk.fi (in Finnish). 14 July 2023.
      3. Asplund, Bubi (23 April 2021). "Sjundeåkillen Kai Meriluotos klara mål för fotbollskarriären: "Först en plats i HJK, sedan spel i någon av de europeiska toppligorna"". Yle.fi (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
      4. Kuparinen, Heikki (7 June 2022). "Pikkuhuuhkajien maailmankansalainen aloitti jalkapallon Ranskassa – nyt hän haluaa viedä Suomen EM-kisoihin, mutta ovi on auki vielä toisellekin maalle: "Katsotaan, jos Japani kiinnostuisi"". SuomiFutis (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
      5. "KAI MERILUOTO LAINASOPIMUKSELLA ILVEKSEEN – "KOIN, ETTÄ TÄMÄ OLI ITSELLENI PARAS STEPPI TULLA ILVEKSEEN"" (Press release) (in Finnish). Ilves. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
      6. Mäntylä, Pekka (4 April 2023). "HJK ja Kai Meriluoto jatkosopimukseen". HJK Helsinki (in Finnish). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
      7. Kai Meriluoto: ”Tuntuu, että puolalainen futis sopii minulle hyvin”, Finnish FA, 22 July 2023
      8. "STAL MIELEC VS. ZAGŁĘBIE LUBIN 4 - 2". Soccerway (Press release). Retrieved 26 September 2023.
      9. CRACOVIA VS. STAL MIELEC 2 - 2, int.soccerway.com
      10. Kai Meriluoto kertoi Veikkausliigan ja Ekstraklasan eroista – ei ole ollut yhteyksissä HJK:n kanssa: ”Kaikki on auki”, suomifutis.com, 21 March 2024
      11. Kai Meriluoto at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
      12. "Tulospalvelu".
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