Austin FC reached an agreement with Swedish side IF Elfsborg for the transfer of Leo Väisänen in January 2023, signing the Finnish international defender to a four-year guaranteed contract through the end of the 2026 season with an option for 2027. Väisänen went on to make 21 appearances (20 starts) for the Verde & Black during his first season with the Club, recording a goal and an assist.
The 6’2” center back had made 26 appearances for the Finland senior men’s national team, including playing in seven UEFA Nations League matches, six FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and one match at UEFA EURO 2020.
As a young player, Väisänen spent time in the academy system of Finnish club HJK Helsinki, making his professional debut in 2016. Väisänen then played two seasons each with RoPS, then of the Finnish Veikkausliiga, and FC Den Bosch of the Dutch Eerste Divisie before joining Elfsborg. In three years with Elfsborg, Väisänen made 94 appearances, recording four (4) goals and four (4) assists.
