Finnish defender Edward Vesterinen has been drafted as the fourth player in the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) international player draft. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers used the draft pick in the first round.

Vesterinen is the first Finnish player to be selected in the CFL Global draft in the first round. The previous Finnish record was held by Chris Mulumba, who was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021 as the 11th player in the second round. In 2019, the CFL held a draft exclusively for European players, during which Finland’s Roni Salonen was selected by the Calgary Stampeders with the 9th pick.

The Finnish defender expressed his satisfaction that the Blue Bombers chose him with their first pick:

-Winnipeg has good coaching for the defense. They also consider the defensive line an important position in the team and develop their players.

Vesterinen played his college career on the defensive line for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He went undrafted in last weekend’s NFL draft but received an invitation earlier this week to the Minnesota Vikings rookie camp. The camp will take place from May 8 to 11, where Vesterinen will have the opportunity to showcase his skills alongside the players drafted by the team.

As an undrafted player, Vesterinen can choose the best option for his career as a free agent.

Two Finnish players have previously played in the CFL. Wide receiver Kimi Linnainmaa represented the Toronto Argonauts in the 2019 season. Mulumba, on the other hand, played for the Tiger-Cats for three seasons and was also involved in the league’s championship game, the Grey Cup, in 2021, where Hamilton did not achieve the championship.

Drafted Finnish players in the CFL

• 2019 Roni Salonen (LB), #9 Calgary Stampeders (only Europeans)
• 2021 Chris Mulumba (DL), #11 Hamilton Tiger Cats
• 2021 Sebastien Sagne (WR), #32 Saskatchewan Roughriders
• 2026 Edward Vesterinen (DL), #4 Winnipeg Blue Bombers