The 22-year-old Swans recruit has not arrived starry-eyed about the level of the second tier since he has already glimpsed something much tougher.
In the past year alone, the Finland midfielder has found himself measuring his game against some of Europe’s elite.
He lined up in Amsterdam against the Netherlands, sharing a pitch with Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch.
He has also tested himself against England - and the likes of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham - at Wembley and in Helsinki.
Those evenings, he reckons, have hardened him for what lies ahead in the Championship, following his debut off the bench in last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday.
“I played against the Netherlands away in Amsterdam,” Walta recalls.
“It was great, and yeah, it was nice to see your level compared to those players who are like world-class, some of the best players in the whole world, so I think I did decent against those guys, so it was nice.”
That quiet confidence is one of the reasons Swansea moved decisively to bring Walta in from Swedish side Sirius on an initial loan until the end of the season, with the deal expected to become permanent on July 1.
Head coach Vitor Matos - who has moved his team to within five points of the play-off places - had prioritised the addition of an attack-minded midfielder during the Jan uary window, and Walta, first linked with the club last summer, fitted the bill.
His pedigree in Sweden suggests he is ready for the step up.
Walta struck 16 league goals in 30 Allsvenskan appearances in 2025, adding to seven the previous campaign.
For a central midfielder, it was an eye-catching return, underlining a knack for arriving in the right areas and striking cleanly from range.
“I was happy, I was able to score that many goals,” he says.
“It’s always been one of my skills with the good shots and passes.”
Creating and converting chances has long been central to his game.
“It’s something that I’ve been practicing my whole life, so I hope I’m able to bring it also in Swansea,” he adds.
The Championship, though, presents a different examination. The fixtures are relentless, the duels unforgiving. But Walta has done his homework.
“I’m really excited, it’s a league that I’ve followed all my life also because it’s showing on the TV in Finland so I think I know quite a lot about it,” he explains.
Conversations with fellow Scandinavians have reinforced that impression.
“They have told me it’s a bit more faster and more physical… I think championship is more higher tempo and physical. So, of course, I need to adapt quick.”
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Adapting quickly has become a theme of his young career. Walta left HJK Helsinki at just 16 to join FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, spending three and a half years progressing through youth and senior ranks before embarking on loan spells and ultimately a permanent move to Sirius in 2024.
“I moved when I was 16 years old so it was a big chance to move away from your family,” he says.
“I think I’m developed in that way to adapt quickly and get used to new environments.”
That willingness to step outside his comfort zone has also shaped his international journey.
Walta earned his first senior Finland cap in 2024 and now has 10 to his name. While Finland missed out on World Cup qualification, the exposure to top-tier opposition has accelerated his growth.
“I played against England twice - in Wembley once and in Helsinki and that was an experience,” he says.
“We have had some really tough matches against top countries, which has been a good experience.”
Swansea’s style of play was another decisive factor in Walta’s move to play under Swans head coach Vitor Matos.
“I watched some games in January and I was thinking that would suit me,” he says.
“It’s a big club and because I watched the games, I was thinking it would suit me and the Championship is a really good league.”
Teemu Pukki, the former Norwich City striker who lit up the Championship and later the Premier League, has long been an inspiration for Walta.
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Pukki recently retired from international duty but remains an iconic figure in Finnish football.
For Walta, he is more than just a compatriot.
“Being one of my role models and how we did in this league and also in the Premier League was special,” he says of Pukki’s exploits.
“He’s such a nice guy as well outside the pitch, so he even congratulates me for the move here, so it’s nice.
“Now I’m in Swansea, I really want to show why I am here.”
