Joonas Kekarainen

Joonas Kekarainen (born 3 May 2005) is a Finnish professional football midfielder for Veikkausliiga side Inter Turku and the Finland U19 national team.^[2]

Joonas Kekarainen

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-05-03) 3 May 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth	Finland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Inter Turku
Youth career
2012–2022	KäPa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	KäPa	51	(8)
2024–	Inter Turku II	7	(3)
2024–	Inter Turku	20	(3)
International career‡
2021–2022	Finland U17	9	(1)
2022–2023	Finland U18	11	(0)
2023–	Finland U19	3	(0)
Medal record Finland U18 Baltic Cup 2023[1]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 October 2023

Club career

Käpylän Pallo

Kekarainen is a product of the renowned Käpylän Pallo youth academy.

He made his senior debut with the club in the third-tier Kakkonen in 2022. In the end of the season, KäPa gained a promotion to the second-tier Ykkönen, and Kekarainen stayed with the team.^[3][4] After the 2023 Ykkönen season, KäPa announced that Kekarainen would depart the club,^[5] after having represented KäPa for over 10 years.

Inter Turku

On 1 November 2023, FC Inter Turku in Veikkausliiga announced that they had signed with Kekarainen on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional year.^[6][7] He debuted with his new club on 27 January 2024, in a Finnish League Cup win against FC Lahti.^[8] Kekarainen scored his first league goal on 27 May 2024, in a 3–1 away loss against Vaasan Palloseura (VPS).

International career

A regular Finnish youth international, Kekarainen has represented Finland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 youth national team levels.^[9]

Kekarainen was part of the Finland U18 squad winning the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in June 2023.^[10]

In October 2023, Kekarainen was part of the Finland U19 squad in the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification tournament, in three games against Romania, Czech Republic and San Marino.^[11]

Career statistics

As of 31 March 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
KäPa	2022	Kakkonen	25	6	0	0	—		—		25	6
	2023	Ykkönen	26	2	2	2	4	2	—		32	6
	Total		51	8	2	2	4	2	0	0	57	12
Inter Turku II	2024	Kakkonen	7	3	—		—		—		7	3
Inter Turku	2024	Veikkausliiga	20	3	5	1	6	0	—		31	4
	2025	Veikkausliiga	0	0	0	0	6	2	–		6	2
	Total		20	3	5	1	12	2	0	0	37	6
Career total			78	14	7	1	16	4	0	0	101	21

1. Includes Suomen Cup
2. Includes Ykkönen Cup and Finnish League Cup

Honours

KäPa

• Kakkonen, Promotion Group A: 2022

Inter Turku

• Finnish Cup runner-up: 2024
• Finnish League Cup: 2024,^[12] 2025