Paulo Bernardo, also known as 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, is a Portuguese footballer, born on 24 January 2002. Aged 23, Bernardo is a midfielder who predominantly occupies the position of a central midfielder for Celtic Football Club. He stands at 5ft 10in (1.8m) tall and tips the scales at 12st 1lb (77kg). In recognition of his performances for Portugal U21, he has earned international representation. At Celtic, he can be identified by the number 28 emblazoned on his jersey.
With a market value staggering around £5.1m (according to Transfermarkt), Bernardo is under contract with Celtic for another 4 years and 2 months, with the agreement expiring on 30th June 2029.
Tracing back his football career, 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo began his footballing journey with Benfica in the Liga Portugal as a trainee in July 2010. His debut season in 2021-22 saw him make 17 first team appearances. Bernardo then moved to Paços de Ferreira in the Liga Portugal 2 on loan in January 2023. His tenure with Paços de Ferreira was highlighted by 13 first team appearances and two goals in the 2022-23 season.
In September 2023, Bernardo made his way to Scotland, transferring from Benfica to Celtic on loan. His performances in Celtic colours during the 2023-24 season warranted 22 first team appearances and three goals. The current season, 2024-25, has seen Bernardo make 25 first team appearances with two goals to his name.
August 2024 marked a significant point in Bernardo's career, when he made a permanent switch from Benfica to Celtic for an estimated fee of around £3.5m. His Celtic career has been marked by consistently featuring in the first team with strong performances.
Bernardo's participation in and contribution to other competitions is notable as well. This includes the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers of 2024-25, in which he played for Portugal U21 and scored four goals in nine starts. In terms of his club, he has participated in the League Cup (2024-25), scoring one goal in two starts, and the Champions League (2024-25) with two starts and six appearances as a substitute.
