Nikolai Alho

Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho (born 12 March 1993) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis and the Finland national team. Initially a winger, Alho moved to a more defending role during his second stint with HJK Helsinki. Beyond football, Alho is known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting various causes related to children and young people in Finland.^[1]

Nikolai Alho

Nikolai Alho with HJK in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho
Date of birth	(1993-03-12) 12 March 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Helsinki, Finland
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Asteras Tripolis
Number	17
Youth career
1999	Honka
	HJK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010−2012	Klubi 04	44	(13)
2012–2016	HJK	80	(13)
2012	→ Lahti (loan)	8	(1)
2017	Halmstad	21	(1)
2018–2020	HJK	70	(5)
2021–2022	MTK Budapest	17	(0)
2022–2024	Volos	75	(2)
2024–	Asteras Tripolis	20	(0)
International career‡
2007−2008	Finland U15	6	(1)
2008−2009	Finland U16	15	(2)
2009−2010	Finland U17	12	(2)
2010−2011	Finland U18	12	(1)
2011	Finland U19	1	(0)
2012	Finland U20	2	(0)
2012	Finland U21	11	(0)
2014−	Finland	41	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 March 2025

Club career

HJK

A product of his local side HJK, Alho came through its reserves, Klubi 04, before signing a professional contract on 2011, keeping him with the Helsinki-based side until 2014.

On 13 June 2013, he played his first league game for HJK and went on scoring twice in a 6−0 home win over FC Inter. On 17 September 2013, he signed a contract that was effective until the end of 2015.^[2]

In 2014 HJK qualified for the Europa League group stage. Alho scored the decisive goal against Rapid Wien in the qualifying play-off round match.^[3]

Loan to Lahti

On 22 August 2012, Alho was announced at Lahti on loan for the rest of the season.^[4]

Halmstad

Alho moved to Allsvenskan side Halmstads BK in January 2017.^[5] He left after one season.^[6] After a difficult season the team was relegated back to Superettan.

Return to HJK

Alho moved back to HJK for the 2018 season.^[7] After a successful season HJK won the Veikkausliiga. This was Alho's 4th domestic championship.

During the 2018 season Alho was also played as a right back by former HJK manager Mika Lehkosuo. Alho, known for his speed, aggressiveness and crossing ability, he was a perfect fit for a modern-day right back. Alho made the switch and had a successful season as right back during the 2019 season.^[8]

MTK Budapest

He signed for Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I (NB I) side MTK Budapest at the beginning of the 2021 winter transfer window.^[9]

Volos

He signed for Super League Greece club Volos F.C. at the beginning of the 2022 winter transfer window, for an undisclosed fee.^[10] On 19 December 2022, his contract was extended until the end of the 2023–24 season.^[11] During the 2022–23 season, his first full season with the club‚ he played more minutes than any other player in his team, in all competitions combined.^[12] After the 2023–24 season, he announced he would depart from the club.^[13]

Asteras Tripolis

On 17 June 2024, Alho signed a two-year deal with a fellow Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis on a free transfer.^[14][15][16]

International career

He made his senior debut for the Finland national football team on 24 January 2014 at Nizwa Sports Complex in Nizwa, Oman, in a friendly match against Oman.^[17]

Alho was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.^[18]

Personal life

Alho's biological father is Ghanaian and his mother is Finnish.^[19] He was adopted soon after by his English mother and Finnish father and was raised in Espoo with his younger sister, also adopted. He is a native speaker of both Finnish and English.

Alho attended the International School of Helsinki for the majority of his childhood, before transferring to Sports High School, Mäkelänrinteen Lukio.

Outside football

Alho is also well known for making music. His debut single "Standing Right Here" went viral on YouTube and also hit radio stations in Finland in 2013. Alho was noticed by JVG the same year and signed a deal with their label, PME Records and WMG in December 2013. His contract with PME Records and WMG ended in November 2014. Alho has stated that he will continue to make music as a hobby but not sign again with a major label until after his football career is over. Football is and always has been his first priority.^[20]

Alho is also the owner of an independent record label, 325 Media. Other owners include Jesse Joronen and Valtteri Moren.^[21][22][23]

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 May 2025^[24][25][26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Klubi 04	2010	Ykkönen	22	1	—		—		—		22	1
	2011	Kakkonen	15	9	—		—		—		15	9
	2012	Kakkonen	7	3	—		—		—		7	3
	Total		44	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	44	13
HJK Helsinki	2011	Veikkausliiga	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2012	Veikkausliiga	9	0	2	1	6	0	1[b]	0	18	1
	2013	Veikkausliiga	23	3	0	0	6	2	2[b]	1	31	6
	2014	Veikkausliiga	22	7	1	1	5	1	9[c]	1	37	10
	2015	Veikkausliiga	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2016	Veikkausliiga	24	3	3	0	4	0	6[d]	0	37	3
	Total		80	13	6	2	22	3	18	2	126	20
Lahti (loan)	2012	Veikkausliiga	8	1	—		—		—		8	1
Halmstad	2017	Allsvenskan	21	1	4	1	—		—		25	2
HJK Helsinki	2018	Veikkausliiga	27	5	7	1	—		4[c]	0	38	6
	2019	Veikkausliiga	22	0	0	0	—		6[c]	0	28	0
	2020	Veikkausliiga	21	0	8	0	—		—		29	0
	Total		70	5	15	1	0	0	10	0	95	6
MTK Budapest	2020–21	NB I	13	0	3	0	—		—		16	0
	2021–22	NB I	4	0	1	0	—		—		5	0
	Total		17	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
Volos	2021–22	Super League Greece	15	0	0	0	—		—		15	0
	2022–23	Super League Greece	34	1	2	0	—		—		36	1
	2023–24	Super League Greece	26	1	2	0	—		—		28	1
	Total		75	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	79	2
Asteras Tripolis	2024–25	Super League Greece	20	0	3	0	—		—		23	0
Career total			335	35	36	4	22	3	28	2	416	45

1. Includes Suomen Cup, Svenska Cupen, Magyar Kupa and Kypello Elladas
2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 21 March 2025

Finland
Year	Apps	Goals
2014	1	0
2015	0	0
2016	0	0
2017	0	0
2018	0	0
2019	0	0
2020	6	0
2021	10	0
2022	8	0
2023	9	0
2024	6	0
2025	1	0
Total	41	0

Honours

HJK

• Veikkausliiga: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020^[27]
• Finnish Cup: 2014, 2020
• Finnish League Cup: 2015

Individual

• Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2020^[28]