Washington, D.C. – D.C. United has announced that midfielder Markus Halsti has been called to the Finnish National Team for a pair of international home matches. Halsti has been selected to the Finland roster for a friendly against Estonia in Turku on June 9, along with a 2016 European Championship qualifier against Hungary in Helsinki on June 13.
Halsti will depart following D.C. United’s match against Toronto FC on June 6 and will miss the team’s regular season match at Orlando City on June 14. In his first season with the Black-and-Red, Halsti has appeared in two games (two starts).
Halsti has 21 appearances with the Finland National Team since his debut in 2008. He last appeared in a 1-0 loss to Hungary in Budapest on Nov. 14, 2014. Finland (1-3-1, 4 points) is currently in fourth place in Euro 2016 Qualifying Group F.
Before arriving in D.C., Halsti spent seven seasons with Malmö FF in the Allsvenskan, the top Swedish division. He appeared in 115 games and scored six goals. He helped Malmö to three league championships in the last five seasons, the first in 2010 before consecutive titles in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, Halsti was named to the Allsvenskan Team of the Year.
Halsti began his professional career in 2003 with Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (HJK) of Veikkausliiga, the premier division of Finnish football, where he appeared in 77 games and recorded three goals over five seasons. In total, the Finnish international has appeared in 20 Champions League games during his club career.
