Paulo Bernardo, otherwise known as Gonçalves Bernardo, was born in Portugal on 24 January 2002, making him a spritely 22 years of age. Commanding the role of central midfielder for Celtic, he stands 5ft 10in (1.8m) tall and tips the scales at 12st 1lb (77kg). Known by his number 28 Celtic jersey, Bernardo's contributions to the beautiful game extend beyond his club, as he's also put in performances for the Portugal U21 national team.
Given his track record, it's little wonder that his current market value hovers around a firm £3.8m, according to Transfermarkt. His contract with Celtic, delighting many a fan, has a healthy 4 years and 6 months remaining, set to expire only on 30 June 2029.
Before gracing the fields of Scotland, Bernardo trained with Benfica in Liga Portugal, joining as a rookie in July 2010. His debut season of 2021-2022 with this Portuguese club saw him establish his presence on the field during 17 first team league match appearances. A loan move in January 2023 to Paços de Ferreira in Liga Portugal 2 continued to build his experience, tallying up 13 first team appearances and a couple of goals.
Celtic fans first caught sight of Bernardo in September 2023 when he arrived on loan from Benfica. He immediately made his mark in the Premiership, with 22 first team appearances and three goals in the 2023-2024 season. The current 2024-2025 season has so far seen him make 20 appearances and secure two goals for Celtic.
Bernardo's loan was made permanent in August 2024, with Celtic paying a fee of approximately £3.5m to Benfica for the young midfielder's services. His first season as a fully-fledged Celt mirrored his successful loan year, with the promising player making 22 appearances and scoring three goals. As the 2024-2025 season unfolds, Bernardo continues to impress, having already started 20 games and scored twice.
As well as his league contributions, Bernardo has represented Celtic in the Champions League during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, with a combination of starts and appearances as a substitute. His exploits extend to the 2024-2025 League Cup for Celtic, and he has also featured heavily in UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers for Portugal U21, scoring four impressive goals from his nine starts.
