Goalkeeper Jaakkola Signs Two Year Deal

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Goalkeeper Jaakkola Signs Two Year Deal

11 July 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading continue to be busy in the summer transfer window, and have completed the signing of Finnish goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, who joins the Royals on a two year contract. The player's career history to date fails to confirm if Jaap Stam considers the goalkeeper as a useful back-up or a serious contender to become Reading's first choice this season. With Al-Habsi and Bond both hoping to claim the number 1 spot this season, it seems a bit of a surprise that Stam has added another goalkeeper into the squad - unless Jonathan Bond is set to leave the club over the coming weeks.

At 6 foot 5, Jaakkola is quite a presence in goal, and at 29 has plenty of years of football ahead of him as he looks to make his mark in the Championship. He is a player that appears to be well known by Stam and signs from South African side Ajax Cape Town. He does have some experience in Britain after playing 14 games for Scottish side Kilmarnock in the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons. His single senior International cap for Finland came in a 0-5 defeat in Sweden in 2011. Since turning professional in 2006 he has made 116 appearances - most of which have came in the last three seasons since signing for Ajax Cape Town.

Discussion On This Story:

royalp-we

» 10 Jul 2016 08:56

For those who didn't see this doing the Twitter rounds yesterday, reports in South Africa suggest we are tracking the Finnish goalkeeper.

Currently plying his trade for Ajax Cape Town and has been capped at youth and senior level for his native country.

LumpWarden

» 10 Jul 2016 09:33

No Jonathan Bond at Borehamwood yesterday and AAH was only player to play whole match - suggests JS taking a good hard look at him?

Sutekh

» 10 Jul 2016 09:43

32 years old and the closest he's been to Reading is 14 appearances for Kilmarnock in 2 seasons, three years ago. Total of 117 apps in 12 years for various clubs (that's almost 10 appearances every season).

Bit too old for an understudy and would have expected him to have had a higher playing profile, by now, to be considered as a number 1 at our level so a little nonplussed at this.

royalp-we

» 10 Jul 2016 09:49

He's 29 - but I agree not the most high profile; although a certain American GK did pretty well for us when joining at about 29 with little experience

This might be a rumour and nothing more. I'm sure I read somewhere yesterday that Bond is injured for 4 to 5 weeks.

One8Seven1*

» 10 Jul 2016 10:13

Bond is injured for around 5 weeks. I can't see why we need this guy though, unless we are looking at losing another relatively high wage in Al Habsi or Bond. Looking at Jaakkola's clips on YouTube he's very useful. But then you wonder why he hasn't been given a chance at a bigger club before the age of 29.

Sutekh

» 10 Jul 2016 10:56

Actually looks a very decent keeper - seems to be a good shot stopper with pretty good positional nous. Obviously beyond that it's difficult to form an opinion without watching him regularly.

Anyone on here who recalls Jaakkola's time at Kilmarnock or someone or who watches a lot of SA football?

Quality clangers when they do happen though....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcUekdlggBA

Better moments here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlXKlbspW6M

genome

» 10 Jul 2016 21:16

Talk Reading ‏@TalkReading 28s28 seconds ago
DONE DEAL: Reading have signed Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola for an undisclosed fee. #readingfc

royalp-we

» 10 Jul 2016 22:14

Don't get me wrong, looks a decent keeper from the videos. But still a weird one this if it is all confimred.

Maybe the club are looking to loan out bond for the season and get one more year out of AAH with jaakkola as understudy?

Oilroyal

» 10 Jul 2016 23:37

Looks likes this has been confirmed in SA and we have another keeper.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/66983/-ajax-cape-town-goalkeeper-anssi-jaakkola-joins-reading-fc

Top Flight

» 10 Jul 2016 23:55

Stam obviously knows this keeper.

Hopefully Jaap has good judgement and knows that this guy is good enough for the Champ. In Jaap we trust.

Top Flight

» 10 Jul 2016 23:56

Certainly the GK position is one that definitely needed improving.

Maneki Neko

» 11 Jul 2016 00:03

Staams agent rubbing his hands here

Pepe the Horseman

» 11 Jul 2016 07:43

I like his beard.

royalp-we

» 11 Jul 2016 08:51

"Jaakkola, Jaakkola rub your beard all over my..."

genome

» 11 Jul 2016 10:00

Feed the Jaak and they won't score?

pwb

» 11 Jul 2016 10:03

Done deal according to this http://www.football411.com/story/0,2216 ... 04,00.html

maffff

» 11 Jul 2016 10:24

Having asked a couple of fans on twitter

Sutekh

» 11 Jul 2016 10:26

Well if he could turn out to be half as good as Jaaskelainen we'd be onto a winner.

First Finn to play for Reading now !

Pepe the Horseman

» 11 Jul 2016 11:00

We signed him from a club over in SA.
He's a goalkeeper and his name is Anssi Jaak-kola.
K-O-L-A, Kola.
He plays for Reading and he's got a great beard.
He's from Finland where they speak really weird. His name is Kola.
K-O-L-A Kola. Anssi Jaakkola.

One8Seven1*

» 11 Jul 2016 15:59

Locals feel he is ready for Seria A. It does look like we've got ourselves a bargain here, and certainlt not someone who expects to sit on the bench as second fiddle to Al-Habsi or Bond.

Royal1988

» 11 Jul 2016 17:55

Confirmed on the official site

blueroyals

» 11 Jul 2016 18:26

What's the link here? Tevreden owe him a favor? Same agent as the kit man? This club has a very Charlton-like vibe to it at the moment

From Despair To Where?

» 11 Jul 2016 19:14

Its nothing Steve Coppell didn't do when he was squad building with us. Lets just hope he's more Ivar than Brooker.

I think Stam's looking for cheap, reliable players that he knows can do a job short term.

Royal_jimmy

» 11 Jul 2016 19:22

Yay we signed another player

3points

» 11 Jul 2016 21:20

His agent is Sander Westerveld, who used to play with Stam I believe

Platypuss

» 11 Jul 2016 21:21

Good call royalp-we

BonBoh

» 11 Jul 2016 21:32

To the tune of The Kinks 'Lola'

Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why he play like a woman and talk like a man
Oh Jaakkola, Ja Ja Ja Jaakkola, Ja Ja Ja Jaakkola

NewCorkSeth

» 11 Jul 2016 22:02

Interesting. Bond out on loan or 3 GKs in the squad?

Mr Optimist

» 11 Jul 2016 22:32

It would be nice to have a keeper you had confidence in again,
hopefully. I am sure our defence will feel the same.

Upper West Ginger

» 12 Jul 2016 00:53

The interview on YouTube was interesting in that it made reference to Al Habsi but none whatsoever to Bond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XncfJNEo4P4
Around 2:23, the interviewer refers to him "..providing healthy competition with Ali Al Habsi, who has been the Number 1 last season. Hopefully that's what it will be, two good goalkeepers vying for that jersey."
I reckon Bond is on his way out.

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