Sligo Rovers have confirmed the signing of Teemu Penninkangas ahead of the new SSE Airtricity League season.
The 6'4" 27-year-old can play at either centre-half or left-back and has spent his entire career to date in his home country of Finland where he was both a league and cup winner.
Penninkangas also featured for SJK in the Champions League qualifiers.
"It’s a signing that is really going to fit in with how we play," the Bit O'Red's boss Liam Buckley said of their new signing.
"Teemu can play as a left-back or wing-back as well as in the middle of defence and I feel we are well-stocked in that area now.
"Teemu has done very well in Finland, he’s won several trophies and played in Europe. He wants to be successful here too.
"He’s tall, physical, he reads it well and he can also come up from the back and score goals which he has done consistently throughout his career.
"But first and foremost, I’ve signed him as a defender and someone who will bring even more character to the group.
"His record in Finland is excellent and this is something he should relish, coming into a new league.
"As a player I was willing to play in different countries and loved it. Outside of Ireland, it’s just normal that you sign foreign players and bring them to your club. We take that approach.
"As our fans know it’s difficult to compete for every player in Ireland. We have to seek out the best possible value to fit within our remit and I think we’ve done that."
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