For Inaki Pena, the dream of becoming a goalkeeper was fueled by the unwavering support of his family, notably his parents, Senor and Senora Sottores. While most kids his age dreamed of scoring goals, Iñaki found his passion in stopping them. Since his early years, he has enjoyed diving and jumping with unbreakable energy, and he is determined to keep every ball out of the net. In his Spanish hometown of Alicante, Inaki, during childhood, would set up makeshift goalposts with household items and would practice for hours, calling on his parents, other family members and friends to kick balls his way just so he could test his skills.
Family-Fueled Dream: The Inspiring Story of Iñaki Peña’s Goalkeeping Journey
Behind his dedication was a hardworking family. His father, Señor Sotorres, worked tirelessly—either self-employed or possibly in a government job—to provide for the family, doing so with a quiet determination. His mother, equally committed, ran a small grocery store near their home. Despite her busy days, she made sure to be there for Iñaki, closing up shop in the evenings to cheer him on from the sidelines.
From these early days of dedication and support, Iñaki’s journey to becoming a professional goalkeeper took shape, driven by family sacrifice, personal resilience, and a love for the game that set him on a path to success. Today, he stands out as one of Spain’s promising young talents, a goalkeeper known for his agility and determination—a story that began in a small town but holds boundless ambition.
Preamble:
Moving past his fast-growing pace in football, our version of Inaki Pena’s Biography provides facts about his parents- his father, Senor Sottores, mother, Senora Sottores, early career life, religion, etc. We have put together this gallery that gives a snippet of his rise to fame from early childhood.
From his early life to his fame in football- behold Inaki Pena’s Biography. Image Credit: Instagram@inakipenya.
Inaki Pena Childhood Story:
For first-time biography readers, Ignacio “Iñaki” Peña Sotorres was born on the 2nd of March 1999 to his parents- his father, Senor Sottores and his mother, Senora Sottores, in Spain.
The goalkeeper is likely the only child in the couple’s marital bliss. Nonetheless, as we take you on Inaki Pena’s biography, his parents have been his source of comfort and support throughout his journey.
Growing-Up Years:
Inaki Peña was born in Alicante, a sunny city by the sea where the beaches are long and the weather is warm. From the time he was a little boy, he loved to run around with a ball, even before he could walk well. His parents liked to take him to the soccer fields nearby, where he played with so much energy. While other kids liked running around, Inaki was always interested in standing in front of the goal, blocking it so no one could score. He loved the idea of keeping the ball out of the net.
As he got older, his love for being the goalkeeper grew. While his friends liked scoring goals, Inaki wanted to stop them! He would jump and dive with lots of energy, always trying his best to keep the ball out. At home, he made a pretend goalpost with things he found around the house and practised for hours. He asked his family or friends to kick the ball at him so he could try to stop it.
When Inaki turned seven, he joined a local soccer team. From the very first day, he told his coach he wanted to be the goalkeeper. Even though his coach asked him to try other positions, Inaki kept going back to the goal, ready to protect it. He was quick, and he seemed to know exactly where to be to block the ball. His coaches were very impressed with him. He loved being the last line of defence, and his teammates knew they could count on him.
By the time he was a teenager, everyone knew about Inaki’s amazing goalkeeping skills. He was fearless, jumping in front of the ball to make big saves. People who looked for talented players saw Pena and thought he could be a star one day. Starting from the small fields in his neighbourhood, Inaki was now on a journey toward playing on big, professional fields.
Family Background:
Tiredlessly, Inaki Peña’s parents worked very hard to take care of their family in Alicante. Senor Sotorres must have been self-employed or had a job in one of the government institutes. Nonetheless, he did diligently care for his family without excuses.
On the other hand, Inaki’ Pena’s mom also worked to help the family. She ran a small grocery shop near their home, where people came to buy fruits, vegetables, and other things they needed. Even though her days were busy, she always made time for Inaki’s soccer. She would close the shop in the evenings and go to watch him play, cheering him on from the sidelines. Having her shop close to home meant she could take care of her work and her family at the same time.
Inaki Pena’s parents worked together to keep the family happy and healthy, making sure their kids had everything they needed. Watching his parents work so hard taught Inaki that good things come from doing your best. They weren’t rich, but they pulled all they had on their child.
Inaki Pena Family Origin:
Born in Alicante, Valencian Community, Iñaki Peña’s birthplace reflects his Spanish nationality. Research also shows that his parents, Senor Sottores and his mother, Senora Sottores, could also be from Spain. The map shows the hometown of the footballer.
Alicante, where the footballer was born. Photo: Google Maps.
What do we know about Inaki Pena’s hometown? Alicante is a city by the sea on Spain’s southeastern coast called the Costa Blanca. In the old part of town, called Barrio de la Santa Cruz, there are narrow streets, colourful houses, and places to enjoy at night. You can take an elevator or walk up a steep path to reach the Santa Bárbara Castle from this area.
Did you also know that Inaki Pena’s birthplace is three hours from Mikel Arteta‘s family home in San Sebastián? And four hours to get to Adama Traoré‘s town in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat?
Inaki Pena Family Life:
From childbirth till he achieved success in his career, there was one constant factor in his life- Inaki Pena’s parents. The goalkeeper’s mother and father putting their efforts together never made him feel alone. Although they might keep a low profile in the media, they are the supporting pillars of the footballer’s existence.
About Inaki Pena’s Mother:
Senora Sottores was very important in his life. She helped take care of their family and also supported his love for soccer. Inaki’s mom had a small grocery shop near their home, where people came to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Her days were long and busy, but she always made time to help Inaki follow his dreams. Every evening, she would close her shop and go to the soccer field to watch Inaki play. Seeing his mom there, cheering for him, made him feel happy and helped him try even harder.
Inaki Pena’s mom showed her son how important it is to work hard and never give up on what you love. Watching her work so much taught him to stay strong and follow his dreams. As he got older, he remembered her support and knew he wanted to make her proud. Every time he made a save on the field, Senora Sottores was always on his mind, knowing her love and hard work were with him always.
About Inaki Pena’s Father:
Senor Sottores, the head of the family, led by perfect example. We do not know if Inaki Pena’s father loved football or was once an amateur player like Jorgen Larsen’s dad. But we are sure that once he noticed his child’s interest in the sports, he gave his undivided support.
Working long days was very tasking, but Senor Sottores attended all the games. Seeing his father watching him closely was enough to tell the goalkeeper that he had his love and unending affection. He stated that his dad never lacked in his duty as a father and a husband.
Introducing Claudia Perez, Inaki Pena’s Girlfriend:
Despite putting all his energy into his football career, an extraordinary person in his life takes the skilled goalie’s heart. Inaki Pena’s longtime girlfriend is Claudia Perez. Judging from her name, facts reveal she is also a Spanish native. Here are the lovebirds in the image.
Meet Inaki Pena’s Girlfriend – Claudia. Source: Instagram@clauuudiape
Details surrounding how these two began their love affair make us wonder if they were high school sweethearts or found love in the field. Inaki Perez’s girlfriend is angling towards being an influencer as her Instagram page garners followers daily.
Nonetheless, from the lovey-dovey posts between Inaki Pena’s girlfriend and the goalkeeper, we would be expecting wedding bells soon. We imagine the couple starting a beautiful family. And the kids would also tow the football line like their father did.
Inaki Pena Football Journey:
He started playing soccer when he was five, joining a small local club called Alicante CF. Later, when Inaki was 13, he joined the famous FC Barcelona from another team called Villarreal. He worked very hard and was a part of the team that won a big tournament called the UEFA Youth League in 2018. The goalkeeper played in the final game, helping his team win against Chelsea!
In 2018, when Iñaki was still young, Barcelona asked him to stay with them for a few more years, and he signed a new contract. He was then moved up to Barcelona’s reserve team, where he got to play in real matches. His first game was on October 6, 2018, and ended in a tie, 1–1.
A summary of Inaki Pena’s early phase in his career. Image: Instagram@inakipenya.
Later that month, on October 30, Iñaki got invited to join Barcelona’s main team for an important tournament game. Even though he didn’t get to play, he was there to support the team on the bench. Sometimes, he got to play with them during the season when the main goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, was hurt.
Personal life:
Out of the pitch, the Valencian guardian always has time to socialize with his friends outside his job. The Pisces zodiac player is an outstanding-natured individual who attracts many people from his workplace to his hometown. Inaki shares his sun sign with Tyrone Mings (CB), Andrew Robertson (LB), Harry Maguire and Ivan Toney.
Aside from that, Inaki Pena’s girlfriend steadily goes the goalie to make vacations for just the two of them. They both travel around the world and experience the different countries and their foods while vlogging about their trip. It’s one of the ways the Barca teammate eases his muscles from his steady workouts.
However, being on holiday doesn’t mean Inaki’s work life is out of his routine. His colleagues noticed that the Spanish player was the first to be in the gym and the last to leave. Showing how much he prioritizes his health and stamina to use on the pitch in the moments of action.
Ascent to Sucess:
On the 31st of January, 2022, Peña went to play for Galatasaray, a soccer team in Turkey, for the rest of the season. He played his first game for them on the 6th of February, in a 1–1 tie against a team called Alanyaspor. His coach there, Domènec Torrent, used to help coach Barcelona.
After his time with Galatasaray ended, Peña returned to Barcelona, where he made his first big game appearance with the team. This happened on the 1st of November, 2022, in a 4–2 win over Viktoria Plzeň in a big European tournament, the UEFA Champions League. Then, on the 3rd of January, 2023, Barcelona officially made Peña part of their first team and gave him a new jersey number, 13.
In May 2023, Peña signed a new contract with Barcelona to stay with them until 2026. The team set his contract buyout at a very high price of 400 million euros to keep him at the club. One of the highlights for the Barcelona-inspired goalkeeper came on October 26, 2024, when Peña held Real Madrid scoreless in a 4–0 victory. His impressive performance drew praise from fans and critics alike, recognizing his skill and calm under pressure.
International Career:
Peña played soccer for Spain’s teams for younger players at many levels, like under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21. Altogether, he played 30 times for these teams. In 2016, when he was part of the under-17 team, Inaki was the main goalie and helped the team reach the final of a big European tournament. The rest is history, they said.
Untold Facts:
We use this section to get to know more information about the footballer. As well as the exciting details that make your favourite goalkeeper more interesting.
Inaki Pena’s Religion:
The name Iñaki comes from the name “Ignatius”, which is linked to a famous Christian man named Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He was vital in Christian history because he started a group called the Jesuits in the Catholic Church. And so we can say that since there is no other religion, the goalie has showcased he is a Christian.
Inaki Pena FC-24:
The goalkeeper’s skills on the field are very well-defined and articulated. Thus, Sofifa gives him a rating of over 70 per cent, with the potential to increase to 80 per cent. As you can see in the image, Inaki’s hand diving, positioning and reflexes between the posts tick him off as a very good keeper.
Sofifa’s rating of the Spanish goalie
End Note:
Ignacio “Iñaki” Peña Sotorres was born on the 2nd of March 1999 to his parents- his father, Senor Sottores and his mother, Senora Sottores, in Spain.
The goalkeeper is likely the only child in the couple’s marital bliss. Nonetheless, as we take you on Inaki Pena’s biography, his parents have been his source of comfort and support throughout his journey. Inaki Peña was born in Alicante, a sunny city by the sea where the beaches are long and the weather is warm.
From the time he was a little boy, he loved to run around with a ball, even before he could walk well. His parents liked to take him to the soccer fields nearby, where he played with so much energy. While other kids liked running around, Inaki was always interested in standing in front of the goal, blocking it so no one could score. He loved the idea of keeping the ball out of the net.
Tiredlessly, Inaki Peña’s parents worked very hard to take care of their family in Alicante. Senor Sotorres must have been self-employed or had a job in one of the government institutes. Nonetheless, he did diligently care for his family without excuses.
On the other hand, Inaki’ Pena’s mom also worked to help the family. She ran a small grocery shop near their home, where people came to buy fruits, vegetables, and other things they needed. Even though her days were busy, she always made time for Inaki’s soccer. She would close the shop in the evenings and go to watch him play, cheering him on from the sidelines. Having her shop close to home meant she could take care of her work and her family at the same time.
Despite putting all his energy into his football career, an extraordinary person in his life takes the skilled goalie’s heart. Inaki Pena’s longtime girlfriend is Claudia Perez. Judging from her name, facts reveal she is also a Spanish native. Here are the lovebirds in the image.
Details surrounding how these two began their love affair make us wonder if they were high school sweethearts or found love in the field. Inaki Perez’s girlfriend is angling towards being an influencer as her Instagram page garners followers daily.
Nonetheless, from the lovey-dovey posts between Inaki Pena’s girlfriend and the goalkeeper, we would be expecting wedding bells soon. We imagine the couple starting a beautiful family. And the kids would also tow the football line like their father did.
Success Story:
On the 31st of January, 2022, Peña went to play for Galatasaray, a soccer team in Turkey, for the rest of the season. He played his first game for them on the 6th of February, in a 1–1 tie against a team called Alanyaspor. His coach there, Domènec Torrent, used to help coach Barcelona.
After his time with Galatasaray ended, Peña returned to Barcelona, where he made his first big game appearance with the team. This happened on the 1st of November, 2022, in a 4–2 win over Viktoria Plzeň in a big European tournament called the UEFA Champions League. Then, on the 3rd of January, 2023, Barcelona officially made Peña part of their first team and gave him a new jersey number, 13.
In May 2023, Peña signed a new contract with Barcelona to stay with them until 2026. The team set his contract buyout at a very high price of 400 million euros to keep him at the club.
Later that season, Peña played two games near the end, against Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo, playing around 72 minutes. He let in two goals during these matches. Then, on the 26th of October, 2024, Peña played a fantastic game, helping Barcelona beat Real Madrid 4–0 without letting in any goals. Many people praised him for how well he played.
Thank You!
We appreciate you for reading our story about Inaki Pena’s biography. We worked hard to ensure the information was correct and fair when writing about your favourite goalkeeper. Our archive has the life stories of David de Gea and Edouard Mendy, which would surely catch your interest.
