Teemu Pukki Biography: Teemu Eino Antero Pukki is a Finnish footballer who plays as a striker for HJK Helsinki. He is Finland’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer, with 43 goals in 133 matches. He began his career with KTP and moved to Sevilla in 2008, where he played one La Liga game for the first team. He later played for German club Schalke 04, Scottish club Celtic, Danish club Brøndby, Norwich City in England and Minnesota United in MLS. He joined Norwich City on a free transfer in 2018 and was named Championship Player of the Season in 2018-19. He retired from international football in November 2025 and has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the 2026 Finnish season.
EARLY LIFE
Pukki was born on 29th March 1990 in Kotka, a town on the Gulf of Finland in the Kymenlaakso region, to Tero Pukki and Teija Pukki. He was raised in Hovinsaari, Kotka. Having football-loving parents helped his choice of football as a hobby, and it gradually became the main passion of his life. He began playing with HOPS and then joined the youth side of KTP. He made his debut for the KTP first team at 16. In two seasons he made 29 appearances in the Finnish top division and scored three goals. In 2008 Pukki joined Sevilla. He was named in the squad for a match against Real Madrid on 7th December 2008 but was an unused substitute. He made his La Liga debut against Racing on 25th January 2009. Most of his time in Spain was spent with Sevilla’s reserve team.
PERSONAL LIFE
Pukki married his long-time partner Kirsikka in 2019 in a private ceremony. The couple have two daughters, Olivia and Ella, and in 2023 it was reported that they were expecting a third child. The couple prefer a quiet life away from the cameras.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
On 28th August 2010, Pukki signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Finnish Veikkausliiga club HJK. He made his debut for the club on 30th August in a match against IFK Mariehamn. He scored his first league goal for HJK against FF Jaro. In the 2010 season he scored seven goals for the club, and HJK won the Veikkausliiga title. In the 2011 season he scored 11 goals and made eight assists in 18 league appearances, and HJK won the league and the Finnish Cup. He also played a key part in HJK’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying matches. He then moved to Schalke 04 in Germany in 2011. Pukki joined Celtic in 2013 and was part of the side that won the Scottish Premiership in 2013-14. He then moved to Brøndby IF, first on loan in 2014 and then permanently in 2015, and helped them win the 2017-18 Danish Cup.
On 30th June 2018, he joined English Championship club Norwich City on a free transfer on a three-year deal. He made his debut for the club on 4th August in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City. A week later he scored his first goal for the club in a 4-3 loss to West Bromwich Albion. Norwich won the 2018-19 EFL Championship, and Pukki was the division’s top scorer. In April 2019 he was named EFL Championship Player of the Season. He was also named Norwich City’s Player of the Season for 2018-19 and received the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy. On 3rd July 2019, Pukki signed a new three-year contract with the Premier League newcomers. After a 4-1 loss to Liverpool on the opening day, he scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Newcastle eight days later. It was Norwich’s first Premier League hat-trick since Efan Ekoku against Everton in 1993. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for August 2019.
Norwich were relegated in 2019-20 but won the Championship again in 2020-21. Pukki left Norwich at the end of the 2022-23 season. In five seasons he scored 88 goals in 210 games in all competitions, making him the fourth-highest goalscorer in Norwich City history. In June 2023 he joined Minnesota United in MLS on a free transfer as a Designated Player. In October 2023 he scored four goals in a match against LA Galaxy.
In January 2025 Pukki returned to HJK on a two-year contract, 14 years after he first left the club. On 20 September 2025 he scored the only goal as HJK beat KuPS 1-0 in the Finnish Cup final in Tampere.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
For his national team, Pukki made his debut on 4th February 2009, when Stuart Baxter brought him on as a substitute against Japan in a friendly in Tokyo. In the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League, Finland won promotion from League C. He scored 10 goals in qualifying for Euro 2020, helping Finland reach their first major tournament. At Euro 2020 he played all three group games.
On 12 October 2021 he scored twice against Kazakhstan to pass Jari Litmanen as Finland’s all-time top scorer. He retired from international football after the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. In his last match for Finland, a 4-0 friendly win over Andorra in Tampere on 17 November 2025, he scored his 43rd goal in his 133rd game.
RETIREMENT FROM FOOTBALL (2026)
In 2026 Pukki announced that he will retire from football at the end of the 2026 Veikkausliiga season, which finishes in November 2026. At the time of the announcement he had scored 10 goals in 34 games for HJK in all competitions in 2026.
| Clubs | Season |
| KTP | 2006-2008 |
| Sevilla (and Sevilla Atlético) | 2008-2010 |
| HJK | 2010-2011 |
| Schalke 04 | 2011-2013 |
| Celtic | 2013-2015 |
| Brøndby IF (loan, then permanent) | 2014-2018 |
| Norwich City | 2018-2023 |
| Minnesota United | 2023-2024 |
| HJK | 2025-2026 |
HONOURS
Sevilla Youth
- Copa del Rey Juvenil de Fútbol: 2008
HJK
- Veikkausliiga: 2010, 2011
- Finnish Cup: 2011, 2025
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership: 2013–14
Brøndby IF
- Danish Cup: 2017–18
Norwich City
- EFL Championship: 2018–19, 2020–21
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Veikkausliiga All-Stars: 2011
- EFL Championship Player of the Season: 2018–19
- EFL Championship top scorer: 2018–19
- PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19 and 2020–21 Championship
- Norwich City Player of the Season: 2019, 2022
- Premier League Player of the Month: August 2019
- Finnish Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
- Finland’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer: 43 goals in 133 matches
PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS:
Height: 5ft 11in
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Full Name: Teemu Eino Antero Pukki
Date of Birth: 29th March 1990
Place of Birth: Kotka, Finland
Playing Position: Striker
Current Club: HJK Helsinki
Wife: Kirsikka Pukki
Kids: Daughters Olivia and Ella
CONTROVERSY:
The Finland striker has not been involved in any major controversy in his career.
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
Twitter: @Teemu_Pukki
Instagram: @elpugi
Frequently asked questions
Who is Teemu Pukki?
Teemu Pukki is a Finnish striker who plays for HJK Helsinki. He is Finland’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.
How old is Teemu Pukki?
Teemu Pukki was born on 29 March 1990 in Kotka, Finland.
Where was Teemu Pukki born?
He was born in Kotka, a town on the Gulf of Finland, and grew up in the Hovinsaari area of the town.
How tall is Teemu Pukki?
Teemu Pukki is 5 ft 11 in tall.
Which club does Teemu Pukki play for?
He plays for HJK Helsinki, which he rejoined in January 2025 on a two-year contract. He earlier played for Norwich City and Minnesota United.
Is Teemu Pukki retiring?
Yes. He has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the 2026 Veikkausliiga season. He had already retired from international football in November 2025.
How many goals did Teemu Pukki score for Finland?
He scored 43 goals in 133 matches for Finland, a men’s national record. His last goal came in a 4-0 win over Andorra on 17 November 2025.
How many goals did Teemu Pukki score for Norwich City?
He scored 88 goals in 210 games in all competitions for Norwich, the fourth-highest total in the club’s history.
Who is Teemu Pukki’s wife?
Teemu Pukki is married to Kirsikka. They married in 2019 and have two daughters, Olivia and Ella.
Did Teemu Pukki play at Euro 2020?
Yes. He scored 10 goals in qualifying to help Finland reach their first major tournament, and he played all three of Finland’s group games at Euro 2020.
