Paulo Bernardo Gonçalves Bernardo, a Portuguese footballer born on the 24th January 2000, currently plies his trade as a central midfielder for the Premiership-dwelling Celtic Football Club. Standing at a height of approximately 5ft 10in (1.8m) and sporting a weight of around 12st 1lb (77kg), Paulo, who wears the number 28 jersey, has indeed demonstrated his ability to hold his own on the pitch. Alongside his club commitments, Bernardo has had the honour of representing Portugal at the U21 level.
Presently valued at a respectable sum of €4.00m (£3.5m) according to TransferMarkt, Bernardo's existing contractual ties with Celtic are to remain in place until the 30th of June, 2029, spanning another 4 years and 8 months from now.
Bernardo's career had its beginnings with Liga Portugal side Benfica, where he joined as a trainee in July 2010. His first season with the Portuguese outfit in 2021-2022 saw him grace the field in 17 league matches. The player's evolution was further highlighted by a loan switch to Liga Portugal 2 club Paços de Ferreira in January 2023, where Bernardo made 13 league appearances and netted two goals during the 2022-2023 season.
In September 2023, Bernardo opted for another move, this time joining Scottish Premiership side Celtic on loan. He made good use of his time at Celtic Park, registering 22 appearances and securing three goals in the 2023-2024 league season. Bernardo's illuminating performances led to a permanent move to Celtic in August 2024 for a transfer fee in the ballpark of £3.5m. The 2024-2025 season with the Hoops saw Bernardo tally 10 league appearances and a single goal thus far.
Apart from his regular club duties, Bernardo has consistently participated in multiple competitions, such as the Champions League 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons (for Celtic), the League Cup 2024-2025 season (for Celtic), the Scottish Cup 2023-2024 season (for Celtic), and the UEFA U21 Qualifiers in 2023 and the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers 2024-2025 for Portugal U21, scoring a total of four goals in nine starts and coming off the bench once.
Considering his performances over two seasons, Bernardo has become a key component of Celtic's central midfield elements, demonstrating a commitment that has seen him develop significantly. His contributions across multiple competitions provide evidence of a player willing and able to step up when called upon, marking him as a vital asset to both club and country.
