Former Celtic striker Teemu Pukki has left Norwich City and British football behind to make a big move to Major League Soccer on a Designated Player contract.
MLS clubs are subject to salary caps but are allowed to name three stars as Designated Players to attract experienced and proven talents to their rosters.
Pukki has landed such a deal after leaving Norwich at the end of his contract, earning a lucrative contract with Minnesota United based at Allianz Field in Saint Paul.
The 33-year-old has signed on until June 2025 and is seen as a key signing for the Loons and their ambitions to push into a playoff position.
MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath said: “I feel as though we have gotten that goalscorer we have been craving ever since Christian Ramirez left. He’s a gold standard, proven goalscorer.
“If you look at his record he’s scored at a high level at every team he’s played for. His goalscoring record in the Premier League, the Championship and the Finnish National Team speaks for itself.
“He’s a great professional, what you see is what you get, always as a smile on his face, gets his work done and is a great teammate. The fact is, he scores goals and I know that if we continue to create the opportunities we have this season he will no doubt be successful in this league. We are delighted to get him here and get him integrated with the group.”
Pukki signed for the Bhoys as a fresh-faced 23-year-old back in 2013 and was thought to hold a lot of promise as a big Neil Lennon signing. He was ostensibly signed as Gary Hooper’s replacement. It didn’t quite work out like that for the Finn, who scored just 9 goals in 37 appearances before making an exit to Brondby in Denmark.
After fine form there, his chance of a big move came again when he signed for Norwich. He earned a reputation as a reliable and consistent goal threat, hitting double figures in every one of his five seasons – including two years in the English Premier League.
Over the years, he’s become something of a ‘what if?’ figure with Celtic supporters, but we simply weren’t the right fit for him, nor he for us. That happens in football and it was always nice to see Pukki go on and succeed elsewhere.
Although now in the latter stages of his career, you wouldn’t bet against him making an impact across the Atlantic either. All the best, Teemu!
In other news, Report: Celtic agree personal terms as Brendan Rodgers closes in on another signing.
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