Gabriel Oksanen

Gabriel Oksanen

Personal information
Date of birth	(2006-09-22) 22 September 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	San Diego, United States
Position(s)	Right back
Team information
Current team	SJK Seinäjoki
Number	35
Youth career
0000–2021	San Diego Surf
2021–2022	Philadelphia Union
2022–2023	Real Salt Lake
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Real Monarchs	6	(0)
2024–	SJK II	20	(0)
2024–	SJK	4	(0)
International career^‡
2022–2023	Finland U17	6	(0)
2023–	Finland U18	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024

Gabriel Oksanen (born 22 September 2006) is a Finnish professional football player who plays as a right back for Veikkausliiga club SJK Seinäjoki and the Finland under-18 national team.[1]

Club career

Oksanen played for San Diego Surf in his youth, before he was scouted by Philadelphia Union at the age of 14, and later joined their academy. In the early 2022, he moved to Real Salt Lake organisation, and since then he has played in 6 league matches for the club's reserve team Real Monarchs in MLS Next Pro.[2]

In July 2023, Oksanen was one of the three Real Salt Lake academy players to trial with Danish club Brøndby IF.[3][4]

On 14 November 2023, it was reported in Finnish media that Oksanen is close to sign with Finnish club SJK Seinäjoki, playing in the premier division Veikkausliiga.[5] On 21 November 2023, SJK confirmed the signing of Oksanen.[6] He will be registered to the club's academy squad SJK Akatemia. The team will compete in the inaugural season of the newly established second-tier Ykkösliiga, starting in 2024. On 6 September, his deal with SJK was extended for two years with a one-year option.[7] He debuted in Veikkausliiga with SJK first team on 20 September, in a 3–0 away win against Haka.[8]

International career

Oksanen has represented Finland at under-17 youth national team level.[9] On 31 October 2023, he was called up to Finland under-18 national team for two friendly matches against Austria.[10][11]

Personal life

Born and raised in the United States, Oksanen holds dual Finnish-American citizenship. His father is a Finnish former professional snowboarder Jussi Oksanen, and his mother is English.[12] Oksanen is eligible to represent Finland, England and United States, and has opted to represent Finland at youth national team level.[13]

Career statistics

As of 2 November 2024.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real Monarchs	2022	MLS Next Pro	3	0	–		–		–		3	0
	2023	MLS Next Pro	3	0	–		–		–		3	0
	Total		6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
SJK Akatemia	2024	Ykkösliiga	20	0	0	0	4	0	–		25	0
SJK	2024	Veikkausliiga	4	0	1	0	0	0	–		5	0
Career total			29	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	34	0

1. Includes Suomen Cup
2. Includes Ykkösliigacup

References

1. G.Oksanen player profile MLS Next Pro
2. Encinitas teen joins Finnish youth national team for Nordic Open, thecoastnews.com, Jacqueline Covey, 9 August 2022
3. Brøndby får tre Real Salt Lake-talenter til prøvetræning, bold.dk, 18 July 2023
4. Brøndby sender invitation til tre spillere, tipsbladet.dk, 18 July 2023
5. Suomen poikien maajoukkuepelaaja on siirtymässä Yhdysvalloista SJK:hon, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, Juuso Raja-Aho, 14 November 2023
6. SJK teki sopimukset kolmen nuoren lupaavan pelaajan kanssa, sjk.fi, 21 November 2023
7. Gabriel Oksaselle jatkosopimus SJK:ssa, sjk.fi, 6 September 2024
8. SJK:lle kolmen pisteen potti Valkeakoskelta, sjk.fi, 20 September 2024
9. RSL Academy Defender Gabriel Oksanen Named to Finland U-17 National Team, oursportscentral.com, 26 July 2022
10. U18-pojat nimetty Itävalta-otteluihin – Veikkausliigakokemusta mukana, Veikkausliiga, 31 October 2023
11. U18-pojat ja Itävalta iskevät yhteen keskiviikkona, Finnish FA, 14 November 2023
12. Finnish Youth National Team Call-Up Excites RSL Academy Duo, Real Salt Lake, 1 March 2023
13. Encinitas teen joins Finnish youth national team for Nordic Open, thecoastnews.com, Jacqueline Covey, 9 August 2022

External links

• Gabriel Oksanen at Soccerway
• Gabriel Oksanen at WorldFootball.net