Quakes sign Riihilahti

By Jeff Carlisle · February 22, 2009

Echoing reports from across the Atlantic, a league source has confirmed to CLS that the San Jose Earthquakes have signed Finland international midfielder Aki Riihilahti.

The source indicated that Riihilahti signed his contract over the weekend, and all that remained to be done was for MLS to approve the contract, at which point the signing will be officially announced, probably some time this week.

Riihilahti’s arrival could do plenty to tweak the Quakes’ lineup, with Ramiro Corrales likely moving to left back in order for the Finn to assume a holding midfield role. Where that leaves last year’s left back, Eric Denton, is anybody’s guess.

Filed Under Jeff Carlisle

Comments

11 Responses to “Quakes sign Riihilahti”

KMJvet on February 22nd, 2009 4:30 pm

What exactly are the injuries that kept him sidelined in Sweden?
Ron on February 22nd, 2009 5:07 pm

http://www.akiriihilahti.com/en/facts.html
frank on February 22nd, 2009 6:27 pm

that’s fine, denton will be at the bench, were he needs to be. hopefully will be having a little bit of depth , also hope the fin holds up………thx., jeff.
Quakes Shape Up - - The Offside - San Jose Earthquakes MLS Soccer Blog on February 22nd, 2009 10:31 pm

[…] the Quakes as the team steadily takes shape for the new season. According to Centerline Soccer, Aki Riihilahti is the newest signing. He is a holding midfielder with Premiership experience (at Crystal […]
blackandblue on February 23rd, 2009 3:26 pm

Finally! Denton’s on the bench! Hooray! Suomi Perkele!
Mel on February 23rd, 2009 3:33 pm

Ok….how are we supposed to make a chant out of this guy’s name???
Any suggestions?
Embele on February 25th, 2009 11:01 am

wouldn’t it go Rii-hil-ah ti (clap clap clap-clap-clap)? Or does the opening sylabble roll a little? The we would say it to the tune of the “Hallelujah chorus”
joel es latest soccer news on February 26th, 2009 8:46 pm

That’s funny Embele. Thanks I needed that.
Comings and goings…sort of : Center Line Soccer - Your source for Bay Area soccer news on March 2nd, 2009 1:22 pm

[…] the signing of midfielder Aki Riihilahti, nor the trade for defender Chris Leitch have been officially announced, meaning that technically, […]
mason on July 3rd, 2009 5:59 pm

i dont know if im too late. or whats going on. if he is signed, playing, or what. but this man is a 1 in a million. intellegent, loyal and a passionate footballer. by all accounts, ever, a great man and an eccentric. read his self named.com website. what a legend.
mason on July 3rd, 2009 6:03 pm

ah i see it didnt happen.. could easily have read up on that. damn bad miss you did there, with your weird mls regulations. what a man, what a man!