Born: Oulu, Finland, 31 May 1972
Position: Goalkeeper
International caps: 67
International goals: 0
Signed: Southampton, 10 January 2006 (£1m)
Fulham debut: Fulham 1-0 Newcastle United, 14 January 2006
Fulham appearances: 63
Fulham goals: 0
Sold: 31 May 2008 (released).
The subject of one of the best bits of British radio, Antti Niemi joined Fulham from Southampton for £1m in January 2006. He kept a clean sheet on his debut against Newcastle United four days later to earn a precious three points and demonstrated his agility and superb shot-stopping on numerous occasions. The Finnish international’s Fulham career was badly disrupted by a horrific neck injury after he came off his line to clear the danger against Watford on New Year’s Day 2007 and collided with Carlos Bocanegra. He recovered to return during the Great Escape but lost his place to Kasey Keller and was released at the end of the season.
