January 9, 2013
BACK HOME
Tainio signs with HJK Helsinki

After two years with the Red Bulls, Teemu Tainio will play in his native Finland. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Former Red Bulls midfielder Teemu Tainio signed a two-year deal with HJK Helskinki in his native Finland on Wednesday.

Tainio was released by the Red Bulls after last season after playing two years with the Major League Soccer club.

The 33-year-old central midfielder could travel and play with the team early as early next week to play in a tournament in Maspalomas, according to the team website.

Tainio was bothered by several leg inuries during his two-year Red Bulls tenure, limiting him to only 14 games (nine starts) and 782 minutes in 2012.

He also has played for Tottenham, Sunderland and Birmingham in England, Ajax in the Netherlands and Auxerre in France, among other clubs.

Tainio has scored six goals in 52 games over 10 years for the Finnish National Team.