Juhani Pikkarainen’s career continues after one Ilves season in the Swedish premier league.
Central defender who made his debut in the Finnish men’s national football team in the fall Juhani Pikkarainen moves from Ilves to the Swedish main league to the ranks of Degerfors. Ilves tells about it on its website.
Pikkarainen had a contract with Ilves for next season as well, so the club will receive a transfer fee.
Pikkarainen moved to Ilves last winter from VPS and played a convincing season in the back lines. Ilves finished silver in the Veikkausliiga and reached the third qualifying round in the Conference League.
Pikkarainen was chosen as the best defender of the Veikkausliiga season. He played his first game in Huuhkajie’s shirt against Greece in November, when he was in the starting line-up at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
Degerfors won the Superettan last season and was promoted to the Swedish premier league Allsvenskan.