“The best year” of Viljami Sinisalo’s life, he remarked, has been his Exeter City season.

The 22-year-old goalie from Finland has appeared in 50 games while on loan from Aston Villa to St James Park this season.

With the exception of one game, he started every League One game for Exeter. He also assisted the team in making it to the Carabao Cup semifinals, where they defeated Luton Town of the Premier League.

He received six prizes on the Grecians’ end-of-season awards night, including player and supporters’ player of the year.

“It’s been the best footballing season and year of my life,” he said on BBC Radio Devon.

It’s been outstanding. I owe everyone at the football club so much.

All I can say is thank you and I love this football club and hopefully one day, I don’t know when, I can return here.”

Sinisalo came to the club having played just four League One games while on loan at Burton Albion for the first half of last season.

But despite his relative inexperience – he has also played for Ayr United in Scotland and Villa’s academy side in the EFL Trophy – he has thrived this season.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell has predicted he will “go on to have an incredible career” while he has won two caps for his country and was part of Finland’s squad that lost to Wales in their Euro 2024 qualifier earlier this year.

“I had a tough year last year and I was probably expecting, having played four games at Burton last year, to go down a level and try and prove myself in League Two first,” he said.

“When Exeter came calling, there was a real belief in me and the gaffer really wanted me here and gave me that platform to come and develop.

“I spoke to Ollie Watkins at Villa and he had only good things to say about the club.

“I’ve loved it. I can’t speak highly enough of the football club and this place will always stay in my heart and in my memories.”