| Joel Voelkerling Persson | |
| Fullname: | Joel Axel Krister Voelkerling Persson |
| Birth Date: | 15 January 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Dalköpinge, Sweden |
| Height: | 1.94 m |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Currentclub: | Värnamo (on loan from Lecce) |
| Youthyears1: | –2019 |
| Youthclubs1: | Trelleborg |
| Youthyears2: | 2019–2022 |
| Youthclubs2: | Roma |
| Years1: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Roma |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Clubs2: | Lecce |
| Caps2: | 9 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs3: | → Vitesse (loan) |
| Caps3: | 9 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2021 |
| Nationalteam1: | Sweden U19 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam2: | Sweden U21 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 19 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 21:51, 14 December 2023 (UTC) |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | → Värnamo (loan) |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
Joel Axel Krister Voelkerling Persson (born 15 January 2003) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Allsvenskan club IFK Värnamo, on loan from club Lecce.
Born in Dalköpinge, Sweden,[1] Voelkerling Persson played for the academy of local club Trelleborg before joining the youth sector of Serie A side Roma in January 2019, following a successful trial at the Italian club.[2] [3] [4] Initially assigned to the under-17 squad, the centre-forward came through Roma's youth ranks[5] [6] before renewing his contract with the club in the summer of 2020.[7]
During the 2021–22 season, Voelkerling Persson started training with Roma's first team under manager José Mourinho, and made his first bench appearances for the senior squad in several Serie A and UEFA Europa Conference League matches.[8] During the same campaign, he was a part of Roma's under-19 squad that reached the final of the national championship before losing to Inter Milan.[9] [10]
On 13 July 2022, Voelkerling Persson joined newly promoted Serie A side Lecce on a permanent deal, signing a five-year contract with the club.[11] The transfer reportedly commanded a fee of almost €1 million, with a 50% sell-on clause and a buy-back option in favor of Roma.[12]
After struggling with injuries in the first half of the 2022–23 season,[13] the forward made his professional debut in Serie A on 14 January 2023, coming on as a substitute for Lorenzo Colombo in the 72nd minute of a 2–2 home draw against Milan.[14] [15]
On 26 August 2023, Lecce announced that they had agreed with Dutch side Vitesse to transfer Voelkerling Persson and that he was set to complete his medical tests in the Netherlands.[16] [17] The deal was officially completed three days later, with the player joining the Eredivisie club on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[18] [19] He played nine games for Vitesse throughout the 2023–24 league season.[20]
On 17 August 2024, Voelkerling Persson joined Allsvenskan club IFK Värnamo on loan until the end of the 2024 campaign, with an option to buy and a sell-on clause in favor of Lecce.[21] [22]
Voelkerling Persson has represented Sweden at youth international level, having played for the under-19 national team.[23]
He has an older brother, Jakob, who is also a professional footballer and plays as a defender.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Roma | 2021-22 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lecce | 2022–23 | Serie A | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | |||
| Vitesse (loan) | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||