Players

Välimaa is currently on loan to Orange County Blues FC (USL).

2015 Stats: Four appearances (one start), playing 122 minutes ... Made professional debut vs MNU on 4.11 ... Made first career start at NYC on 4.18.

Verneri Välimaa signed with the Rowdies on March 30, 2015.

Valimaa, 22, joined the Rowdies as a trialist and played in matches against the University of Tampa, University of South Florida and Jacksonville Armada FC. His cross into the box against USF forced a Bulls defender into scoring an own goal in Tampa Bay’s 4-1 win.

A University of North Carolina graduate, Välimaa is a central midfielder capable of sitting deep and breaking up opposition play or playing higher up in the attack as a creative midfielder.

Välimaa impressed the Rowdies coaching staff with his positioning and decision-making ability on the ball. He’s a quick and a very accurate passer as well, helping to get the ball out of dangerous spots and creating advantageous situations going forward.

Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Välimaa came to Coral Springs, Florida, at the age of five. Välimaa won a Florida Class 2A state championship in 2010 with Plantation’s American Heritage, netting 32 goals and providing 18 assists that season. He was the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Player of the Year in 2011 and an ESPN Rise All-American. He played one season at George Mason University before transferring to UNC Chapel Hill.  The holder of a US passport, Välimaa has represented Finland at the under-20 level.

The Rowdies are Välimaa’s first professional team.