MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Wednesday that Finnish international defender Jukka Raitala has agreed to a one-year extension, keeping him under contract with the club through the 2020 season.
Raitala, 30, is currently in his second season with the Impact, after being acquired by trade in December 2017 from the Los Angeles Football Club.
In 2018, he registered one goal and two assists in 28 regular season games, including 25 starts, and 2,290 minutes, playing at centre back, left-back and right-back. He scored his first career goal in MLS and with the Impact on August 11, against Real Salt Lake, also earning the MLS Goal of the Week honour. He also appeared in both Canadian Championship games, including one start.
In three MLS seasons, Raitala has recorded one goal and four assists in 57 games, including 45 starts, and 4,224 minutes. He has also played two MLS Cup Playoff games with Columbus Crew SC in 2017.
At the international level, Raitala has played 43 games with the Finland national team, making his senior debut on February 4, 2009, in a friendly against Japan. He played four UEFA Nations League games in 2018, after appearing in several World Cup and Euro qualification games throughout his career.
Transaction: The Montreal Impact agreed to a one-year contract extension with defender Jukka Raitala on March 27.
