The young midfielder has played five games with the Finland national team

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday the acquisition of Finland international midfielder Lassi Lappalainen, with options to extend his loan through the 2020 MLS season.

Montreal’s loan agreement with Italian club Bologna FC 1909 is guaranteed for six months until December 31, 2019, using Targeted Allocation Money. The Impact have options to extend the loan until June 30, 2020, as well as until December 31, 2020.

Lappalainen, 20, joins the Impact after finishing atop HJK Helsinki with six goals since the start of the 2019 season, scoring three regular season goals, two goals in the UEFA Champions League and one in the Finnish Cup.

“We want to reinforce our team for the end of the season with an offensive player, giving us more options on the left flank of attack,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “He’s a player with technical diversity, who has a large volume of play at high intensity. Despite his young age, he’s shown that he can score and provide assists. We’ll place him in the best possible conditions to help him adapt to Montreal. I welcome him among us.”

He previously played a season and a half on loan with Rovaniemen Palloseura, also in the Veikkausliiga, in 2017 and 2018, scoring a combined 12 goals in 39 regular season games and three goals in five Finnish cup games. He concluded the 2018 season tied for 10th in the league with eight goals.

After developing through its Academy, Lappalainen played his first professional season with HJK Helsinki in the Veikkausliiga in 2016, appearing in 14 regular season games, one Finnish Cup game and four Finnish League Cup games.

At the international level, he has recorded two assists in five games with the Finland national team, making his senior debut on January 8, 2019, in a friendly game against Sweden. He recently appeared in three 2020 Euro qualification games. He also played with the U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 youth national teams.

He was transferred to Bologna FC 1909 from HKJ Helsinki on July 25.

Transaction: The Montreal Impact acquired midfielder Lassi Lappalainen, with options to extend his loan through the 2020 MLS season. Montreal’s loan agreement with Bologna FC 1909 is guaranteed for six months until December 31, 2019, using Targeted Allocation Money. The Impact have options to extend the loan until June 30, 2020, as well as until December 31, 2020.

LASSI LAPPALAINEN

Position: Midfielder

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 175 lbs

Birthdate and birthplace: August 24, 1998, in Espoo, Finland

Citizenship: Finland

Last club: Bologna FC 1909 (Italy)

Date acquired: July 25, 2019