Racing Louisville FC bolstered its defense with the signing of multi-talented Finnish international Elli Pikkujämsä, the club announced Friday.
The 23-year-old defender, who turned pro in soccer at 15 and was also a Youth Olympics silver medalist in snowboarding as a teenager, signed a two-year deal with Racing, with a mutual option for a third year through the 2025 season.
“I’m so happy to join Racing Louisville, and I can’t wait to get started with our players next year,” Pikkujämsä said. “I’m excited to see Louisville and the U.S. since I’ve never been there before. It will be interesting to see the level of the NWSL, too, and I can’t wait to start playing games!”
Pikkujämsä – pronounced “Pick-oo-yawm-suh” – is a young star on the Finland national team, with 20 appearances, including three starts in this past summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. She has played center or left back as well as defensive midfield for Finland, though the Turku, Finland, native primarily plays central defender.
She joins Racing after spending the past three years with Swedish club KIF Örebro, which plays in the fiercely competitive Damallsvenskan. Pikkujämsä scored six goals in 27 appearances this past season, helping Örebro qualify for the group stage of the ongoing Swedish Cup and finish ninth in the 2022 Damallsvenskan. She was an Örebro teammate of former Racing midfielder Freja Olofsson, who is now with Real Madrid, in 2020.
Before Örebro, Pikkujämsä played four years as a pro in Finland, debuting first for her hometown club FC TPS in 2015, then suiting up for FC Honka for two seasons.
The Finnish Football Association describes Pikkujämsä as “a physically very strong player whose long, hard and precise openings sent with great kicking technique are unmatched.”
“Elli is just 23, but she already has a ton of experience,” said Racing coach Kim Björkegren. “She played in the Finnish league when she was 15 and has played three good years in Sweden. She is good under pressure, can dribble if necessary and play both the short and long pass. I know that Elli had many options, so I’m really happy she took the decision to move to Louisville and play with us.”
Pikkujämsä’s talents go beyond the field, too.
She was also a high-level snowboarder, winning a silver medal closely behind American star Chloe Kim in the slopestyle competition at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. She also claimed a bronze and two silver medals at the FIS Snowboarding Junior World Championships between 2014 and 2017.
The Finn stopped snowboarding after 2017 to focus on her soccer career.
The 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season kicks off Saturday, March 25. Full schedule details are expected soon. For now, season ticket memberships are on sale by visiting RacingLouFC.com/tickets or calling (502) 568-2489 during business hours.
The addition of Pikkujämsä gives Racing 22 players under contract for the 2023 season.
Racing Louisville FC’s current 2023 roster
Goalkeepers: Hillary Beall*, Jordyn Bloomer*, Kelsey Daugherty, Katie Lund
Defenders: Emily Fox, Rebecca Holloway, Julia Lester, Satara Murray, Elli Pikkujämsä, Zaneta Wyne
Midfielders: Alex Chidiac^, Savannah DeMelo, Jaelin Howell, Taylor Malham, Lauren Milliet, Wang Shuang
Forwards: Kirsten Davis, Emina Ekic^, Parker Goins, Thembi Kgatlana, Jessica McDonald%, Nadia Nadim
* Hillary Beall (Western United) and Jordyn Bloomer (Western Sydney Wanderers) are on loan in Australia until April.
^ Alex Chidiac (Melbourne Victory) and Emina Ekic (Melbourne City) are on loan in Australia until mid-February 2023.
% Jessica McDonald (Western United) is on loan in Australia until late January 2023.
