Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Joel Pohjanpalo is a Finnish professional footballer known for his goalscoring ability and his long career in European football. Born on September 13, 1994, in Helsinki, Finland, the striker has represented his country internationally and built a career that has taken him through Finland, Germany and Italy. He currently plays for Palermo in Italian football.
Away from the pitch, Pohjanpalo has established a family of his own with his German wife, Catharina. The couple are parents to a daughter, while Joel has also spoken publicly about the influence of his parents during his childhood and development as a footballer. Here is what is known about Joel Pohjanpalo’s wife, children, parents and siblings.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Wife: Catharina
Joel Pohjanpalo is married to Catharina, a German woman whom he met while living and playing football in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The couple have spoken publicly about the beginning of their relationship. They first met at a restaurant in Düsseldorf, where they started talking and exchanged phone numbers. Pohjanpalo did not contact her immediately, waiting around two weeks before getting in touch.
Their relationship initially developed away from public attention. Catharina has explained that she was cautious about dating a professional footballer because of stereotypes surrounding football players. Over time, however, their relationship became serious.
Joel and Catharina married in the summer of 2022. Their wedding was held in southern France, with reports identifying Château Saint-Jeannet, near Nice, as the venue.
Catharina has subsequently accompanied Pohjanpalo during his career in Italy. During his time with Venezia, the couple embraced life in the historic centre of Venice rather than living outside the city, becoming closely associated with the local community.
As of now, Catharina is Pohjanpalo’s wife, rather than his girlfriend, and the couple have been together for several years.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Children
Joel Pohjanpalo and his wife Catharina have one publicly known child, a daughter named Penelope.
Penelope Pohjanpalo
Penelope was born on April 7, 2024, in Venice, Italy. She is the couple’s first child.
Pohjanpalo and Catharina had considered whether their daughter should be born in Germany, Catharina’s home country, but ultimately decided on Venice. Pohjanpalo later described the birth of their first child in the lagoon city as particularly meaningful because of the family’s strong connection with Venice.
He also revealed that after Penelope was born, the family brought her home by boat, a fitting detail given their life in the historic centre of the city.
Becoming a father represented an important change in Pohjanpalo’s personal life. Finnish media have reported him discussing how fatherhood changed his priorities away from football and gave him another important responsibility outside his professional career.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Parents
Joel Pohjanpalo grew up in Helsinki, particularly in the Ruoholahti area, in a family environment that played a significant role in his development. His parents are Risto Pohjanpalo and Kaisa Pohjanpalo.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Father: Risto Pohjanpalo
Joel Pohjanpalo’s father is Risto Pohjanpalo. He has been one of the most publicly discussed members of the striker’s family because of his involvement in Joel’s early football years.
Risto also had experience with football himself. Finnish reports have described him as having played the game during his younger years, giving him an understanding of the sport when his son began showing exceptional talent.
Joel started playing organised football when he was very young. His father closely followed his development and sometimes demanded extremely high standards from him. Risto has subsequently acknowledged that he could be overly demanding when Joel was a young footballer and has spoken openly about regretting some aspects of his strict approach.
Joel, however, has viewed those demanding standards somewhat differently. He has credited the tough feedback he received as a child with helping prepare him for the pressures and expectations of professional football.
Risto has also recalled how strongly football dominated Joel’s childhood. The family’s home in Ruoholahti was close to a football pitch, allowing the future Finland international to spend hours playing outside almost every day.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Mother: Kaisa Pohjanpalo
Joel Pohjanpalo’s mother is Kaisa Pohjanpalo.
Compared with Risto, Kaisa has maintained a much lower public profile. Finnish accounts of Pohjanpalo’s childhood nevertheless show that she was present throughout his formative years and supported the family as Joel became increasingly devoted to football.
One childhood recollection describes Joel spending much of his time on the football pitch near the family’s home, with his mother calling him inside when it was time to eat before he would eventually return to playing.
Another story Pohjanpalo has shared publicly involves his mother and an incident during his school years that taught him an important lesson about honesty and trust. It provides another glimpse into the values and upbringing he received at home before becoming a professional athlete.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Siblings
There is very little reliable public information about whether Joel Pohjanpalo has brothers or sisters.
Unlike his father Risto and mother Kaisa, possible siblings have not been consistently identified in reputable interviews, official biographies or major Finnish media profiles about the footballer.
Because of that lack of verified information, names or claims about Pohjanpalo’s siblings should be treated cautiously. As of now, there is no sufficiently reliable public information confirming the names or details of any brothers or sisters.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s Family Life
Family has accompanied Pohjanpalo through several important stages of his life. His parents played a central role during his development from a football-obsessed child in Helsinki into a professional player, while Catharina has been alongside him during significant periods of his career abroad.
The birth of Penelope in 2024 marked another major chapter. Pohjanpalo has spoken about how becoming a father changed his priorities, while his family became closely associated with Venice during his successful spell with Venezia.
As of now, Joel Pohjanpalo is married to Catharina, and they have one publicly known daughter, Penelope. His parents are Risto and Kaisa Pohjanpalo, while reliable information concerning siblings remains private or unavailable publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joel Pohjanpalo’s Family
Who is Joel Pohjanpalo’s wife?
Joel Pohjanpalo’s wife is Catharina, who is German. The couple met in Düsseldorf and married in southern France in 2022.
Does Joel Pohjanpalo have a girlfriend?
No. Pohjanpalo is married. Catharina, who was previously his girlfriend, became his wife in 2022.
Does Joel Pohjanpalo have children?
Yes. Joel Pohjanpalo and Catharina have one publicly known daughter named Penelope.
When was Joel Pohjanpalo’s daughter born?
Penelope was born on April 7, 2024, in Venice, Italy.
Who are Joel Pohjanpalo’s parents?
Joel Pohjanpalo’s parents are Risto Pohjanpalo and Kaisa Pohjanpalo. His father played an especially visible role during his early football development.
Does Joel Pohjanpalo have siblings?
Reliable public sources do not provide enough verified information about Joel Pohjanpalo’s siblings. As of now, the names and details of any brothers or sisters have not been reliably established publicly.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
