| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 April 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Oulu, Finland [1] | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [1] | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | OLS | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | OLS | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | OLS | 43 | (1) |
| 2024– | AC Oulu | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024 | Finland U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Finland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 October 2024 | |||
Eetu Saarela (born 24 April 2006) is a Finnish professional footballer playing as a centre back for Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu.
Saarela was born in Oulu, but lived in San Diego, United States, during 2009–2019 due to parents' work. [1]
Saarela played in the youth sector of Oulun Luistinseura (OLS), [2] and was part of OLS U17 squad finishing 2nd in the youth league in 2023, and thus winning the silver medal. He scored the decisive equalizing goal in the extra-time against HJK U17 on 30 September 2023, which secured the 2nd spot for his team. [3]
Saarela signed his first professional contract with AC Oulu organisation on 13 December 2023. [4]
On 27 January 2024, Saarela made his senior debut with AC Oulu first team, in a Finnish League Cup draw against FC Haka. [1]
On 14 August 2024, his contract was extended on a two-year deal with a one-year option. [5]
Saarela made his international debut for Finland U18 national team on 24 March 2024, in a 2–2 friendly draw against Croatia. [6]
| Club | Season | League | Cup [a] | League cup [b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| OLS | 2024 | Ykkönen | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 1 | ||
| AC Oulu | 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | |
| 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 24 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
OLS U17