Jeremy Rafanello’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Siara Costa

Jeremy Rafanello is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and attacker for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. Born Jeremy Michael Rafanello on April 14, 2000, in Delran Township, New Jersey, he grew up close to Philadelphia and followed the Union from a young age before eventually becoming a player for the club himself.

Family has been an important part of Rafanello’s soccer story. His parents are Chris and Thereese Rafanello, and he grew up with two brothers, Tristan and Brendan. Jeremy has recalled attending Philadelphia Union games with his parents and brothers when he was younger, making his eventual return to the organization particularly meaningful. His brothers also played soccer during their school years in Delran.

Who Is Jeremy Rafanello’s Girlfriend?

As of now, Jeremy Rafanello has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend or wife through a reliable club, media or official source.

Most interviews involving Rafanello focus on his soccer career, his development through the Philadelphia area, his experiences playing abroad and his return to Philadelphia Union.

His romantic life has remained largely outside the public spotlight. No established sports publication reviewed for this profile consistently identifies a current partner.

For that reason, photographs or social-media interactions should not automatically be treated as confirmation that a particular person is his girlfriend. Unless Rafanello publicly confirms a relationship himself, his relationship status should be regarded as private.

Is Jeremy Rafanello Married?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Jeremy Rafanello is married.

Neither Philadelphia Union’s official player biography nor established profiles of his career identify a wife. He has also not made a widely documented public marriage announcement.

As of now, his marital status is therefore not publicly confirmed.

Does Jeremy Rafanello Have Children?

There is no reliable public information indicating that Jeremy Rafanello has children.

Official club biographies and interviews do not identify him as a father, and there has been no verified announcement concerning a son or daughter.

As of now, Rafanello is therefore not publicly known to have any children.

Who Are Jeremy Rafanello’s Parents?

Jeremy Rafanello’s parents are Chris Rafanello and Thereese Rafanello.

Penn State University officially identified Jeremy as the son of Chris and Thereese when he played college soccer for the Nittany Lions during the 2018 season.

The Rafanello family has deep roots in Delran Township, New Jersey, and Jeremy has described growing up as a Philadelphia Union supporter alongside his parents and two brothers.

When speaking about returning to the Union organization, Jeremy recalled that his mother and father regularly brought him and his brothers to Philadelphia Union games. Those childhood trips helped build his connection with the club long before he became a first-team player.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Father: Chris Rafanello

Jeremy Rafanello’s father is Chris Rafanello.

Although Chris has been publicly identified as Jeremy’s father, detailed information about his profession and personal background has not been widely published in reliable sports sources.

What Jeremy has made clear is that his father was involved in his early experiences as a soccer fan. Chris and Thereese took their sons to Philadelphia Union matches, allowing Jeremy to develop a connection with the club while still growing up in nearby Delran.

Those experiences became more meaningful years later when Jeremy returned to Philadelphia after playing college soccer and beginning his professional career elsewhere.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Mother: Thereese Rafanello

Jeremy Rafanello’s mother is Thereese Rafanello.

Like Chris, Thereese has remained largely outside the professional sports spotlight. Reliable public sources do not provide extensive details about her career or personal background.

However, Jeremy’s own comments indicate that his mother was closely involved in his childhood soccer experience. She and Chris brought Jeremy and his two brothers to Union games, helping create some of his earliest memories connected with Philadelphia professional soccer.

Jeremy later described having both his immediate and extended family nearby as one of the advantages of returning to the Philadelphia area during his professional career.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Siblings

Jeremy Rafanello has two brothers: Tristan Rafanello and Brendan Rafanello.

Penn State’s official biography directly lists Tristan and Brendan as Jeremy’s brothers. Both also have documented connections to soccer in Delran, showing that the sport was not limited to Jeremy within the family.

Tristan Rafanello

Tristan Rafanello is one of Jeremy Rafanello’s brothers.

Tristan played soccer at Delran High School. Historical team rosters show him competing for the school during the early 2010s, several years before Jeremy became an established Philadelphia Union Academy prospect.

Delran High School records also list Tristan among National Honor Society students, showing that his school years included both athletic and academic involvement.

Unlike Jeremy, Tristan did not develop the same public profile through professional soccer, and consequently relatively little information about his adult life is available through established sports sources.

Brendan Rafanello

Brendan Rafanello is Jeremy’s other brother.

Penn State lists his name as Brendan, although historical Delran High School soccer records commonly spell it “Brenden Rafanello.” Those records show that he also played competitive soccer for Delran.

During the 2014-15 high-school season, Brenden Rafanello was recorded as a midfielder who scored three goals and provided three assists for Delran.

School records also show both Brendan and Jeremy associated with the Delran boys’ soccer program during the period when Jeremy was beginning to emerge as a promising young player.

Like Tristan, Brendan has maintained a considerably lower public profile than Jeremy after their school years.

Soccer in the Rafanello Family

Soccer appears to have been an important part of life for the Rafanello brothers growing up in Delran Township.

Tristan and Brendan both appeared on Delran High School soccer rosters, while Jeremy developed into an elite youth player who ultimately moved into the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system.

Having older brothers already participating in the sport gave Jeremy a soccer environment within his own household, while his parents also supported the family’s interest by regularly taking the boys to professional matches.

The family’s proximity to Philadelphia gave Jeremy the opportunity to follow the Union almost from the beginning of the club’s history.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Childhood in Delran

Jeremy Rafanello was born and raised in Delran Township, New Jersey, located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

He initially played soccer locally and spent one season playing for Delran High School before increasingly concentrating on elite academy competition.

Rafanello played for organizations including Match Fit Academy and Continental FC DELCO before joining Philadelphia Union’s Academy.

His scoring record attracted considerable attention. During the 2016-17 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with Continental FC DELCO, he scored 20 goals and finished among the competition’s leading scorers.

Jeremy Rafanello and Philadelphia Union as a Child

Jeremy’s connection to Philadelphia Union began long before he signed a professional contract with the club.

He has recalled attending Union matches with Chris, Thereese, Tristan and Brendan when he was growing up.

Rafanello said he had loved the organization since its early years and remembered his parents bringing the three brothers to games.

That history made his later professional return particularly significant. Instead of simply joining another MLS team, Rafanello was signing for a club that had been part of his childhood family experiences.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Philadelphia Union Academy Career

Rafanello eventually entered Philadelphia Union’s academy and attended YSC Academy, the school closely connected to the club’s youth-development system.

During his final academy season, he became one of the leading scorers in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

His performances also earned recognition from the United States youth national-team program, including involvement with the U19 national team.

Despite his strong connection with Philadelphia, Rafanello initially chose the college route rather than immediately beginning a full-time professional career.

Jeremy Rafanello at Penn State

Rafanello joined Penn State University for the 2018 college soccer season.

He made an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions, appearing throughout his freshman campaign and recording three goals and an assist.

His performances earned him unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Penn State’s official biography from that season also provides one of the clearest public records of his immediate family, naming Chris and Thereese as his parents and Tristan and Brendan as his brothers.

Rafanello ultimately spent only one season in college before deciding to pursue professional opportunities.

Leaving His Family to Play Professionally in Denmark

Jeremy’s first professional contract took him considerably farther from Delran than his earlier soccer experiences.

In 2019, he signed with FC Helsingør in Denmark.

The move represented a significant step for a young player who had spent most of his life close to his family in South Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Playing overseas gave Rafanello experience in a different soccer culture before he eventually returned to the United States.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Return to American Soccer

After his time in Denmark, Rafanello continued his professional career in the United States.

He played for Indy Eleven before signing with New York Red Bulls II in 2021.

Those seasons gave him consistent experience in the USL Championship and allowed him to continue developing while moving geographically closer to his family.

Eventually, another opportunity emerged with the organization he had supported as a child.

Jeremy Rafanello’s Return to Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union brought Rafanello back to the organization in 2022, initially through Union II before signing him to a Homegrown first-team contract.

The move allowed Jeremy to return close to Delran and his family after several years spent building his career elsewhere.

Rafanello later described the proximity to his immediate and extended family as a confidence boost.

He also spoke about how meaningful it was to represent an organization he had followed with his parents and brothers during childhood.

Jeremy Rafanello’s MLS Career

Rafanello made his Major League Soccer debut for Philadelphia Union in September 2023 against the New York Red Bulls.

His role increased over the following seasons. He registered his first MLS assist in 2024 and continued receiving first-team opportunities.

Philadelphia rewarded his development with a new contract in October 2024, guaranteeing him through the 2026 season with club options for 2027 and 2028.

Rafanello remained part of Philadelphia’s senior roster in 2026, continuing the hometown-club story that began when he attended matches with his family as a child.

Why Jeremy Rafanello’s Family Is Important to His Story

Jeremy Rafanello’s journey is closely connected to where he grew up.

Unlike players whose connection to a club begins when they sign a contract, Jeremy already had years of memories involving Philadelphia Union before becoming one of its players.

Chris and Thereese took Jeremy, Tristan and Brendan to matches when the boys were younger. Jeremy later entered the club’s academy, left the region to pursue college and professional opportunities, and eventually returned to Philadelphia as a first-team player.

That makes family an important part of understanding why his Union career carries personal significance beyond professional soccer alone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremy Rafanello’s Family

Who are Jeremy Rafanello’s parents?

Jeremy Rafanello’s parents are Chris Rafanello and Thereese Rafanello.

Who is Jeremy Rafanello’s father?

Jeremy’s father is Chris Rafanello. He and Jeremy’s mother regularly took Jeremy and his brothers to Philadelphia Union matches when they were growing up.

Who is Jeremy Rafanello’s mother?

Jeremy’s mother is Thereese Rafanello. She has generally remained outside the public spotlight but was part of the family support system surrounding Jeremy’s early soccer career.

Does Jeremy Rafanello have siblings?

Yes. Jeremy Rafanello has two brothers, Tristan and Brendan Rafanello.

Who is Tristan Rafanello?

Tristan Rafanello is one of Jeremy’s brothers. He played soccer at Delran High School and was also listed among the school’s National Honor Society students.

Who is Brendan Rafanello?

Brendan Rafanello is Jeremy’s other brother. Delran school soccer records spell his first name “Brenden” and show him playing midfield for the high-school team.

Did Jeremy Rafanello’s brothers play soccer?

Yes. Historical Delran High School records show both Tristan and Brendan participating in boys’ soccer.

Who is Jeremy Rafanello’s girlfriend?

As of now, Jeremy Rafanello has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through a reliable media or official source.

Is Jeremy Rafanello married?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Jeremy Rafanello is married.

Does Jeremy Rafanello have children?

There is no reliable public information identifying Jeremy Rafanello as a father.

Where is Jeremy Rafanello from?

Jeremy Rafanello is from Delran Township, New Jersey, where he grew up close to Philadelphia with his parents and two brothers.

Where does Jeremy Rafanello play?

As of now, Jeremy Rafanello plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. His current contract is guaranteed through 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028.