Urheilu’s expert Jonne Kunnas estimates Emma Santamäki’s transfer amount to be several thousand euros. For the time being, the differences between the clubs are too big for intra-league transfers to become more common.
Aino Paloniemi,
Hinn Hirvonen
Kuopio Palloseura, the leader of the National Football League, strengthened its ranks this week, when the team announced that it had acquired the captain of TPS Emma Santamäki.
The move can be considered exceptional. Sports expert Jonne Kunnas I don’t remember that in recent seasons player transfers were often made against transfer compensation. The municipality estimates the transfer amount to be several thousand euros.
According to Kunnas, Santamäki’s transfer reflects the resource differences between the clubs.
– KuPS, Åland and HJK are among the top three there. Kuopio and Åland still have professional contracts for their players. Differences arise and transfers become possible when the players in the bottom teams are paid practically nothing, says Kunnas.
TPS is in eighth place in the series. Defender Santamäki, 25, has a 1+1 contract and he will join the Kuopio team in mid-July.
– We felt that we need alternatives, certainty and leadership in defense. Emma is the leader and we wanted a domestic player if possible. They must be given the opportunity to play as professionals, KuPS head coach Pauliina Miettinen comment.
Santamäki has played in both Italy and Sweden in his career. Last season, he represented Swedish Umeå IK, but returned to the home fields for this season.
Santamäki was selected as the player of the National League for June. He scored a goal against HJK, which was reported by ‘s commentator Matti Härkönen even described as the finest in league history.
More transfers ahead?
Miettinen is still not completely satisfied with the composition of his team. The goal is to have two new players in the team by the fall, because in addition to the National League matches, there is also the Champions League.
– The transfer window is just opening there. The purpose is to get good competition for us and options for playing differently, says Miettinen.
The transfer window for international player transfers opens on July 13. The window for national player transfers in the women’s main league is open all season until September 2.
Kunnas believes that with the transfer of Santamäki, KuPS will get a firmer grip on the championship fight. At the same time, he believes that the move will also create pressure for other top teams.
– It is interesting to see what Åland does. They have usually had the opportunity to strengthen the team in the summer and of course that creates more need when Jacqui Hand is going to the World Cup, even though they are in good shape.
Read more: When Jacqui Hand, 24, got a job in Finland, she didn’t know that Åland was an island – the quick visit of the player named to the World Cup took a long time
According to Kunnas’ assessment, HJK currently has the smallest need for new players among the league’s top teams. However, he believes that the championship fight will continue even more evenly in the near future, which will increase the competition and force the top three to become stronger.
– In addition, how the players adapt to their new team and what kind of players can be found has a really big impact. The summer transfer window is always a bit more difficult, when you have to be able to play right away and catch up with the team’s rhythm.
Professional positions are still few and far between
In the women’s main league, the contracts are generally very short, which is why the players change their club at the end of the season without transfer compensation.
Kunnas hopes that player trades will become more common in the National League. However, it would require the clubs to strengthen on a broad front.
– Clubs should be able to offer more longer, professional-style contracts, with which they could build their everyday lives better. In this case, it would be possible to receive transfer compensation when the players go abroad.
For the players, this would make the competition tougher.
– There would be even more desirable positions in good environments, and it would give players the opportunity to pursue professional careers. At the moment, it may not be such an obvious option when there are so few professional positions.