Casper Terho

Casper Mikael Terho (born 24 June 2003) is a Finnish professional football player who plays for Belgian Pro League club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and the Finland national team.

Early career
Terho grew up in Vuosaari, East Helsinki, and played football in the youth teams of Helsinki-based clubs Malmin Palloseura (MPS), Puotinkylän Valtti, PK-35 and FC Kontu. In 2018, he joined the youth academy of HJK Helsinki.

HJK
Casper Terho made his professional debut for Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi on the 26 August 2020, coming on as a substitute in the Veikkausliiga 2-0 home win against Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho. Along with other youngsters such as Kai Meriluoto, he played a few other games by the end of season, where his team ended up winning the 2020 championship. He has also played for HJK reserve team Klubi 04 in third-tier Kakkonen and second-tier Ykkönen.

Being already viewed as one of the brightest hopes from the Finnish champions academy, he scored his first goal in his 2021 season debuts, during the 4–2 home championship win against FC Honka on the 24 April 2021. By the end of May, he became a regular starter with HJK, scoring another goal against Ilves, while still aged only 17.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
On 29 September 2022, Belgian side Union SG announced that they had reached an agreement with HJK about his transfer. He joined the Belgian side on 1 January 2023 on a deal until 30 June 2026, for an undisclosed fee. He officially made his debut for the club on 8 January against Anderlecht, as a 77th minute substitute.

Terho scored his first goal for the club on 20 April 2023, in the first leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League quarter finals against Bayer Leverkusen. Despite his goal, his team lost the game 4–1 (5–2 on aggregate), and were eventually knocked out of the competition.

On 23 April 2023, Terho scored his first goals in the Jupiler Pro League, a brace in a 4–2 away win against Kortrijk.

International career
Terho is a youth international for Finland, taking part in the 2020 Euro under-17 qualifications, where Finland topped their pool with Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, although the final stage of the tournament was eventually canceled due to the covid pandemic.

Terho played regularly for the Finnish under-17, under-19 and under-21 national teams, before making his senior debut for Finland on 4 June 2024, in a 4–2 friendly defeat against Portugal.

Honours
HJK Helsinki Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
 * Veikkausliiga: 2020, 2021, 2022
 * Finnish Cup runner-up: 2021
 * Belgian Pro League runner-up: 2023–24
 * Belgian Cup: 2023–24
 * Belgian Super Cup: 2024