Goalkeeper Jaakkola Signs Two Year Deal

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.

From the Discussion

RW royalp-we 10 Jul 2016 · 8:56am

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.
LU LumpWarden 10 Jul 2016 · 9:33am

No Jonathan Bond at Borehamwood yesterday and AAH was only player to play whole match - suggests JS taking a good hard look at him?
SU Sutekh 10 Jul 2016 · 9:43am

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.
RW royalp-we 10 Jul 2016 · 9:49am

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 :wink: This might be a rumour and nothing more. I'm sure I read somewhere yesterday that Bond is injured for 4 to 5 weeks.
ON One8Seven1* 10 Jul 2016 · 10:13am

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.
SU Sutekh 10 Jul 2016 · 10:56am

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
GE genome 10 Jul 2016 · 9:16pm

Talk Reading ‏@TalkReading 28s28 seconds ago DONE DEAL: Reading have signed Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola for an undisclosed fee. #readingfc
RW royalp-we 10 Jul 2016 · 10:14pm

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?
OI Oilroyal 10 Jul 2016 · 11:37pm

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
TF Top Flight 10 Jul 2016 · 11:55pm

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.
TF Top Flight 10 Jul 2016 · 11:56pm

Certainly the GK position is one that definitely needed improving.
MN Maneki Neko 11 Jul 2016 · 12:03am

Staams agent rubbing his hands here

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