Viljami Sinisalo has made it clear he’s not at Celtic just to make up the numbers. The Finnish international is confident he’s on track to eventually become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, as Kasper Schmeichel enters the final year of his deal.
Sinisalo arrived from Aston Villa last July in a £1m move, and after a quiet start, found his opportunity when Schmeichel sustained a shoulder injury during Denmark’s Nations League quarter-final with Portugal in March. That moment handed Sinisalo a platform, and he didn’t disappoint.
The 23-year-old’s composed displays in goal earned praise from sections of the support, particularly for his outing in the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox. The young keeper stood up to a volatile atmosphere, which included missiles thrown from the stands, and helped Celtic to a 1-1 draw.
His final start of the season came in a 5-1 dismantling of Aberdeen at Pittodrie — a confident performance many felt warranted a longer run.
But it wasn’t to be. Schmeichel was reinstated for the final league match at Celtic Park and kept his place in the Scottish Cup Final, where an error from the Dane proved costly as Aberdeen lifted the trophy. Brendan Rodgers made the call to bring Schmeichel back — a decision that sparked debate among supporters given Sinisalo’s solid form.
He said: (RecordSport), “Kasper has one year left on his contract. I have four. We are proceeding according to plan. I am 15 years younger than him.
“Hopefully next season I’ll get more minutes. I’ll just try to play as well as I can when the opportunity arises. We’ll see what happens.”
Sinisalo’s comments emphasise a quiet confidence. He knows time is on his side and that goalkeepers often mature later. His contract length alone suggests the club view him as part of the long-term picture.
As pre-season approaches, the goalkeeper battle promises to be one of the most intriguing. Schmeichel will aim to reassert himself, but should the veteran continue to falter, Celtic may look to the future sooner than expected. For Sinisalo, the groundwork has been laid, now it’s about taking the next step.
