The Portuguese-born Paulo Bernardo, known in full as 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, is a footballer currently plying his trade at Celtic as a central midfielder. Born on the 24th of January 2002, Bernardo stands at an impressive 5 ft 10 in and carries a well-balanced weight of approximately 12st 1lb. A rising star on the pitch, with his notable number 28 jersey, he has also marked his presence on the international stage, representing Portugal's U21 national team.
As per the latest figures shared by Transfermarkt, Bernardo has an estimated market value of roughly £3.5m.
Bernardo's journey into professional football began in July 2010 when he joined Benfica as a trainee, playing in Portugal's Liga Portugal. In his debut 2021 - 2022 season at Benfica, Bernardo made a respectable 17 first team appearances.
His subsequent loan move to Paços de Ferreira in January 2023 in Portugal’s Liga Portugal 2 saw him notch up a contribution of two goals in 13 first team appearances for the 2022 - 2023 season.
Bernardo first found himself on Celtic's book in September 2023, having transferred on loan from Benfica. His stint at Celtic during the 2023 - 2024 season was marked by 22 first team appearances and three league goals. With impressive performances during his loan spell, Bernardo's move to Celtic was made permanent in August 2024 for an approximate transfer fee of £3.5m. His subsequent 2024 - 2025 season at Celtic saw him making 28 first team appearances and netting two goals.
For the current 2025 - 2026 season, Bernardo has already made six first team appearances. His notable mention in Celtic's history also registers his participation in the Champions League 2023 - 2024 with two starts and four appearances as a substitute. Additionally, he has represented Celtic in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 with two substitute appearances and in the Europa League 2025 - 2026 with one start and three substitute appearances.
Bernardo's exploits aren't limited to club football, he also proved his mettle at the international level during the UEFA U21 Qualifiers 2025 for Portugal U21, where he found the net once in four starts.
Setting his sights on the future, Celtic fans look forward to enjoying more of Bernardo's performances and contributions in the noteworthy number 28 jersey.
