Austin FC sign Leo Väisänen from IF Elfsborg | OneFootball

Austin FC have signed Finland international center back Leo Väisänen from IF Elfsborg in Sweden’s top flight.

He joins on a four-year contract that runs through the 2026 Major League Soccer season, with an additional option for 2027.

“We wish Leo a warm welcome to the club and to the city of Austin,” sporting director Claudio Reyna said in a release.“His skill set is an excellent fit for our style of play, and his quality, leadership and international experience will all serve him well here in Austin.”

He arrives with 16 goals in 230 career professional games, also playing extensively for Den Bosch in the Dutch second division and RoPS in Finland’s top flight. He’s also featured for Finland on 23 occasions since debuting in 2019.

“Austin FC is exactly what I’m looking for in the next stage of my career,” said Väisänen. “It’s a club with big ambitions, in a great city with fantastic fan support. I want to thank Claudio and Josh [Wolff] for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to play at Q2 Stadium for the first time.”

Väisänen joins Gyasi Zardes, Matt Bersano, and Cheick Toure as a reinforcement ahead of the 2023 MLS campaign.