TRANSFER TRACKING STATUS: Loan extension

The Montreal Impact have extended the loan of the Finnish international winger Lassi Lappalainen from sister club Bologna until the 2021 season, the club announced on Wednesday.

Lappalainen, 22, joined the Impact on loan in the summer of 2019. He has nine goals and two assists in 24 MLS games (15 starts). He has seven caps for the Finnish national team.

“We are happy that Lassi is staying with us for another year,” sporting director Olivier Renard said in a club statement. “Despite a few injuries, he has proven again this year that he is an important part of the roster and helps the team by scoring goals in this league. His surgery went well two weeks ago and he will be available for training camp in 2021. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Lappalainen’s initial loan was due to expire this summer, but the clubs have accepted an extension until the 2020 season. He joined the Impact after being transferred to Bologna from HJK Helsinki. He already played a season and a half on loan with Rovaniemen Palloseura, also in the Veikkausliiga, in 2017 and 2018, scoring a total of 12 goals in 39 regular season games and three goals in five Finnish Cup games.

The Impact is currently above the playoff line with one game to go, even if it has not yet clinched its place in the playoffs. They face other DC United playoff prospects on Sunday.