Juhani Ojala

HJK Helsinki

During the 2009 season, Ojala represented mostly Klubi-04, HJK's reserve squad. In the beginning of the 2010 season, however, he was selected to HJK's first eleven, due to various injuries in the squad. His performances were outstanding, and he quickly established himself as one of the key players in HJK's victorious 2010 campaign, playing in all games. Ojala became one of the best and most talented players in the Veikkausliiga, and his performances provoked widespread international interest. At the end of the 2010 Veikkausliiga season, he was officially selected as the defender of the year.

Young Boys

On 9 April 2011 Ojala signed a contract extension with HJK, the new contract running until 2014. But in July, HJK announced that Ojala would transfer to Swiss team BSC Young Boys on 13 August, for a transfer fee of €600,000. He gained notoriety in England during Young Boys' 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage match against Liverpool at the Stade de Suisse. In an eventful match, which ended 5–3 to the Reds, Ojala opened the score with an own goal, putting the ball past Marco Wölfli, his own goalkeeper. He later made amends by scoring a header to bring Young Boys level at 2–2 just after half time.

Terek Grozny

After a year and a half in Switzerland on 12 February 2013 it was announced that Ojala would transfer to Russian Premier League team Terek Grozny, for a fee of €500,000.

Loan to HJK Helsinki

On 29 July 2015, Ojala…

In November 2010, after representing Finland on youth levels, Ojala was called up to the national team squad to face San Marino. He made his national team debut on 15 November 2011 in a friendly match against Denmark in Esbjerg when Mixu Paatelainen used him as a substitute. He gained his first FIFA World Cup qualification appearance 12 October 2012 in Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a match against Georgia. During autumn of 2012 he established himself as a regular in the national team. He made his first goal for Finland on 9 January 2017 in a friendly match in Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain against Morocco. Ojala was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.

Club

As of 27 June 2025

International

As of match played 29 May 2021

Notes

International goals

Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first.

HJK

Veikkausliiga: 2009, 2010 Vejle

Danish 1st Division: 2020 Finland

2012 Baltic Cup Runner-up 2014 Baltic Cup Bronze Individual

Veikkausliiga defender of the year: 2010