KooKoo showed off its prowess in the transfer market - snatched an Ilves star!

KooKoo gets a significant returnee in its defense as Arttu Pelli moves back to his youth club in Kouvola. The 29-year-old defender has signed a two-year contract with the club, which also includes the possibility of a transfer abroad for the 2027–2028 season.

Pelli returns to KooKoo after spending five seasons elsewhere. In recent years, he played for Tampereen Ilves, where he accumulated 44 regular season games last season with stats of 4+11=15. In the playoffs, he appeared in 13 games and recorded two assists.

KooKoo’s sports director Antti Tuomenoksa states that the club reacted quickly when the opportunity for a return arose.

– When we learned that Arttu might be available from his contract, we immediately became interested in the situation. The return of a KooKoo product felt like a natural option, and it quickly became clear that Arttu specifically wanted to come back to KooKoo, Tuomenoksa says.

Pelli started his Liiga career at KooKoo in the 2015–2016 season and spent six seasons with the club before moving to Ilves via HPK. He has also been seen in the Finnish national team.

According to Tuomenoksa, the returnee brings several important qualities to the team.

– Arttu brings good movement, right-handedness, special teams expertise, and experience from Liiga. His strengths fit our playing style, Tuomenoksa says.

Pelli is the player who has played the most games (301) in KooKoo’s Liiga history during the regular season. Additionally, he holds the club record for shots, totaling 753.

Pelli himself is excited about his return to his hometown.

– It’s great to come back home. It has always been a goal to play in Kouvola again. I talked with Antti Tuomenoksa and Jouko Myrrä, and I left with a good feeling. KooKoo has a good vibe right now, and there’s a desire to win here. I believe the best years are still ahead, Pelli says.