TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Loan extension
The Montreal Impact have extended the loan of Finland international winger Lassi Lappalainen from sister club Bologna through the 2021 season, the club announced Wednesday.
Lappalainen, 22, joined the Impact on loan in the summer of 2019. He has nine goals and two assists across 24 MLS appearances (15 starts). He has seven caps with the Finnish national team.
“We are happy that Lassi stays with us for another year,” sporting director Olivier Renard said in a club statement. “Despite suffering a few injuries, he proved again this year that he is an important part of the roster and helps the team by scoring goals in this league. His surgery went well two weeks ago and he will be available for the training camp in 2021. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Lappalainen's original loan was set to expire this summer but the clubs agreed to an extension through the 2020 season. He joined the Impact after being transferred to Bologna from HJK Helsinki. He previously played a season and a half on loan with Rovaniemen Palloseura, also in the Veikkausliiga, in 2017 and 2018, scoring a combined 12 goals in 39 regular season games and three goals in five Finnish cup games.
The Impact currently sit above the playoff line with one game remaining, though they haven't clinched their playoff place just yet. They face fellow playoff hopefuls D.C. United on Sunday.
