Otso Liimatta will immediately move to Famalicao. In Oulu’s press release, the transfer is described as carefully thought out, as Famalicao has promoted several youngsters to the bigger leagues in recent years.
Represented AC Oulu in the men’s football league Take the Glue moves to the Portuguese premier league club Famalicao. AC Oulu according to the release the contract is for four years and brings transfer compensation to the Oulu club, as Liimata’s contract with AC Oulu would have continued until the end of 2024.
Liimatta, who turned 19 this summer, had time to play 51 matches in the Veikkausliiga, in which nine goals were scored.
In May 2021, the 169-centimeter väkkärää, who made his debut in the Veikkausliiga at the age of 17, has been regarded as the great promise of Finnish football.
Liimatta is a skillful and fast left winger with the ball, who is at his best when advancing with the ball towards the opponent’s defensive line. The Tervarien native of Oulu dares to challenge, passes sharply and is able to offer his teammates scoring opportunities.
Liimata, who has become the main force of the Finnish under-21 national team, has already received enough interest from abroad.
– I’m still quite small, so I still have room to develop in my physique. I have to be tougher in singles in order to do well in the bigger leagues, Liimatta thought to at the beginning of July.
– Certainly there are some discussions between the clubs, but there is no transfer yet. I don’t know anything about this myself, I just focus on my own work, Liimatta laughed at the time.
“A carefully considered step”
AC Oulu’s director of sports Markus Heikkinen said in the announcement that it has been great to follow the steps taken by Otso during the last four years.
– Otso has adapted to new environments in the different teams of the club quickly. It says a lot about Otso as a player. Otso has a quick head and feet, a high skill level and a big engine. These aids will help Otso adapt to the next stage of his career as well. I am very happy that Otso will be able to chase his dreams for real.
This season, Liimatta played 16 league matches in AC Oulu, scoring four goals and providing one assist. The midfielder will move to Portugal immediately.
AC Oulu is fourth in the Veikkausliiga, only five points behind the top team HJK.
In Oulu’s press release, Liimata’s transfer is described as a “carefully considered step”, because over the years Famalicao has given playing time to many young people without prejudice. The club’s hometown is Vila Nova de Famalicao in northern Portugal.
Famalicao, founded in 1931, was promoted to the Portuguese premier league for the 2019–20 season. Last season, it finished eighth in the main series of 18 teams.
The team plays its home games in a stadium called Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, which attracts 5,307 spectators.
– The expectations for the new club are good. The operation is very professional and the training environment is high-quality, Liimatta says in the press release.
– First you have to adapt to the tempo of the new team and the league, which is probably significantly higher. Physics still needs to be developed.
AC Oulu’s second major store
Earlier this year, a 20-year-old topper Miika Koskela moved to Tromsa, Norway with a four-year contract. Also at that time, AC Oulu received transfer compensation.
CEO of AC Oulu Hanna Väänänen and chairman of the board Tomi Kaismo emphasize in the press release that part of the club’s strategy is to invest specifically in young people and to be a springboard towards foreign leagues.
– We are aware of Otso’s value and potential. We are happy that we can be a club where promising young players like Otso Liimata and Miika Koskela have been able to develop to the point that they are interesting for teams playing in bigger leagues in Finland. AC Oulu is satisfied with the financial details of the transfer, says Kaismo.