M. Kirilov

Martin Elias Kirilov was seven years old when he joined the HJK Helsinki academy, having started out at EBK and then FC Honka in Espoo. He stayed in the HJK system through every youth grade, and on 9 May 2023 he signed his first professional contract with the club. He moved to Italy on 29 August 2023, for an undisclosed fee, joining Torino.

The switch put him in Torino's U18 and U19 sides rather than the senior squad, and he spent more than two years working through the Italian club's youth ranks. He returned to HJK Helsinki on another undisclosed transfer, signing a new deal that runs to the end of 2028 and taking the number 17 shirt.

In the Veikkausliiga this season he has made 16 appearances, contributing a goal and three assists, and on 16 August 2026 he scored his first senior league goal, in a 3-0 win over FF Jaro. He has also featured in the Finnish Cup, the League Cup — where he has scored twice — and in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where he set up a goal in three appearances.

Kirilov has yet to be capped by Finland's senior side, with two goals in two games for the under-15s, four in six for the under-16s as Finland won the Baltic Cup in 2023, three in eleven for the under-17s during Euro 2024 qualifying, and further appearances for the under-18s and under-19s without adding to his goal tally at those levels.