Kasper Vili Valtteri Paananen (born 16 March 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or winger for Allsvenskan club Kalmar FF, on loan from SJK Seinäjoki and the Finland national team.
Career Paananen was born in Helsinki but moved to Oulu with his family at an early age. He played for OLS, OPS, and OTP in his youth years, before he moved to Italy in 2019 and signed with Bologna organisation.16-vuotias futislahjakkuus Kasper Paananen siirtyy Italian pääsarjaseuraan, Ilta-Sanomat, Janne Oivio, 19 August 2019 Paananen spent four years in Italy,Futislupaus Kasper Paananen, 17, oli jäädä loukkuun liki Italian koronapesäkettä – passi oli Suomessa: ”Kieltämättä aika hermostunut”, Ilta-Sanomat, Tatu Myllykoski, 23 March 2020Bolognesea Kasper Paanasen tapaan - 17-vuotiaalla hyökkääjälupauksella takanaan ensimmäinen vuosi Bolognan akatemiassa, Lapin Kansa, Kai Nevala, 26 May 2020 played 61 matches, and scored 20 goals in total for the youth academy teams of Bologna, before leaving in 2023.
He spent time with AIK, Trelleborgs FF, and played one match for Honka in Finnish League Cup, before signing with SJK Seinäjoki.Kasper Paananen Kerhon riveihin, SJK, 17 March 2023Suomalainen huippulupaus testille Ruotsin suurseuraan – viettänyt viime vuodet Italiassa, suomifutis.com, Ville Liimatta, 16 January 2023 He was first registered to the club's academy squad SJK Akatemia, playing in the second tier Ykkönen. For the next 2024 Veikkausliiga season, Paananen was promoted to the first team. In his first season in the league, Paananen made 28 appearances and scored eight goals. He started the 2025 season strong and scored four goals in the first four matches, helping SJK to start the season with the club's record-breaking four consecutive wins.Kommentti: Tässä on Veikkausliigan alkukauden sensaatio, Ilta-Sanomat, 24 April 2024 Paananen was named the Veikkausliiga Player of the Month for April and August 2025.SJK:n Kasper Paananen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja huhtikuussa, Veikkaus, 5 May 2025
Personal life His younger brother Julius Paananen is also a professional football player for AC Oulu.Suomalainen jalkapallolupaus lähellä ammattilaissopimusta: "Olen saanut treenata sellaisten äijien kanssa, joilla olen pelannut itse Fifaa pleikkarilla", Yle, 10 May 2020 The former professional ice hockey player Jari Viuhkola is his maternal uncle.
Career statistics Kasper Paananen, Football Association of Finland + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFinnish CupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHonka2023Veikkausliiga0000100010SJK Akatemia2023Ykkönen268–––268SJK2023Veikkausliiga101000–202024Veikkausliiga2886341–38122025Veikkausliiga321831402041192026Veikkausliiga1644410–219Total7730148912010240Kalmar FF (loan)2026Allsvenskan0000––00Career total103381481012012948
International
National teamYearCompetitiveFriendlyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFinland2026001One appearance in the 2026 FIFA Series.010Total001010
Honours Finland FIFA Series: 2026
Individual Veikkausliiga Player of the Year 2025 Veikkausliiga Striker of the Year 2025 Veikkausliiga Top Goalscorer 2025 Ruutu Star Player of the Year 2025 Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: April 2025, August 2025
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