Paulo 'Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, born on the 24th of January, 2002 in Portugal, primarily exhibits his football prowess as a central midfielder for Celtic. Standing at 5ft 10in (1.8m) and clocking a weight of 12st 1lb (77kg), this 23-year-old commands the pitch wearing the number 28 jersey. Bernardo's rounds of representation include the Portugal U21 national team alongside Celtic.
According to Transfermarkt, the market places Bernardo's current value at approximately £4.3m.
With football running in his veins, it's no surprise Bernardo kick-started his career early. His initial encounter with professional football was with Benfica in Liga Portugal, Portugal, where he joined as a trainee in July 2010. His debut season of 2021-2022 with Benfica allowed Bernardo to shine, earning 17 first team appearances in league matches.
January 2023 saw a temporary shift in Bernardo's career, as he transferred from Benfica to Paços de Ferreira in the Liga Portugal 2, Portugal, on loan. During the 2022-2023 season with Paços de Ferreira, Bernardo made a mark by appearing in the first team in 13 league matches, and scoring two goals.
His journey with Celtic began in September 2023 when Bernardo transferred from Benfica on loan. His performance in Scotland was definitive, with him securing 22 first-team spots and scoring three goals in his first season, and making 28 appearances with two goals in the next. The current season of 2025-2026 at Celtic has marked Bernardo's presence, with him having already made four first team appearances in league matches.
August 2024 harboured a turning point, wherein Celtic recognised Bernardo's talent, and transferred him from Benfica for a fee of approximately £3.5m. His performance at Celtic has been nothing short of consistent, as we can see in his appearances across seasons, and ready contribution of goals.
Bernardo's list of contributions extends to various championships such as the Champions League 2023 - 2024, where he played for Celtic with two starts and four appearances as a substitute. He also made his mark in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 for Celtic with two appearances as a substitute. Shining in the UEFA U21 Qualifiers 2025 for Portugal U21, he scored a goal in four starts. His contribution continued in the Europa League 2025 - 2026 for Celtic with one start and two on the bench.
