Joel Lehtonen (footballer)

This article is about a Finnish footballer. For Finnish author, see Joel Lehtonen.

Joel Lehtonen

Personal information
Full name	Joel Andrei Sakarinpoika Lehtonen
Date of birth	(1999-11-29) 29 November 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Pori, Finland
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	AC Oulu
Youth career
	Jazz
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Jazz	25	(1)
2019	Badalona	0	(0)
2020–2022	Jazz	56	(3)
2023–2024	EIF	46	(1)
2025–	AC Oulu	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2024

Joel Andrei Sakarinpoika Lehtonen (born 29 November 1999) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu.

Club career

After advancing through the youth program of his hometown club FC Jazz, Lehtonen made his senior debut with the club's first team in third-tier Kakkonen in 2017. In 2019, he spent half of a season in Spain with CF Badalona, but returned to Jazz for the 2020 season. He left the club in early 2023.[1]

In January 2023, Lehtonen signed with Ekenäs IF (EIF) in second-tier Ykkönen.[2][3] The team won the 2023 Ykkönen title and were promoted to top-tier Veikkausliiga. On 1 September 2024, Lehtonen scored his first Veikkausliiga goal for EIF, in a 1–1 home draw against SJK Seinäjoki. EIF were relegated back to the second tier, and Lehtonen left the club after the 2024 season.

On 26 October, AC Oulu in Veikkausliiga announced the signing of Lehtonen on a one-year deal with a one-year option.[4]

Career statistics

As of 19 October 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
Jazz	2017	Kakkonen	10	1	4	0	–		–		14	1
	2018	Kakkonen	15	0	0	0	–		–		15	0
	Total		25	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	29	1
Badalona	2019–20	Segunda División B	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
Jazz	2020	Kakkonen	13	0	1	0	–		–		14	0
	2021	Kakkonen	20	1	–		–		–		20	1
	2022	Kakkonen	23	2	1	0	–		–		24	2
	Total		56	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	58	3
EIF Akademi	2023	Kolmonen	1	1	–		–		–		1	1
EIF	2023	Ykkönen	23	0	4	0	4	0	–		31	0
	2024	Veikkausliiga	23	1	3	1	4	0	–		30	2
	Total		46	1	7	1	8	0	0	0	61	2
AC Oulu	2025	Veikkausliiga	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
Career total			128	6	13	1	8	0	0	0	149	7

1. Includes Suomen Cup
2. Includes Ykkönen Cup and Finnish League Cup

Honours

EIF

• Ykkönen: 2023[5]

References

1. Joel Lehtonen matkaa Ykköseen, fcjazz.com/fi, 21 January 2023
2. LEHTONEN: ”KULTURKROCK ATT KOMMA TILL EKENÄS”, herrar.eiffotboll.fi, 21 January 2023
3. Försvararen Joel Lehtonen är klar för EIF – ”Jag behöver en ny nivå”, Västra Nyland, 21 January 2023
4. JOEL LEHTONEN SAAPUU AC OULUUN, acoulu.fi, 26 October 2024
5. Sensaation tehneen seuran porilaispelaaja kertoo, minkälainen ratkaiseva ero on Porilla ja idyllisellä ruotsinkielisellä pikkukaupungilla, Satakunnan Kansa, 8 October 2023

External links

• Joel Lehtonen at Soccerway
• Joel Lehtonen at WorldFootball.net
• Joel Lehtonen stats at Finnish FA