Paulo Bernardo, officially known as 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, is a gifted midfielder hailing from the vineyards of Portugal. Born on the 24th of January in 2002, he has spent his career transforming the football field into a cathedral of dexterity. With his prime role as a central midfielder, he plays his heart out for our beloved Celtic, sporting the number 28 jersey with pride. Admiring fans watch as Paulo, standing at 5ft 10in (1.8m) and a sturdy 12st 1lb (77kg), uses his elevated stature to control the pitch. Furthermore, his impressive track record extends beyond Scotland, having also represented the Portugal U21 national team.
According to Transfermarkt, Paulo's current market value circles around the £3.5m mark. His appeal is evident, paved with a career which took off in July 2010 at Benfica in the Liga Portugal, where he trained and polished his innate skills. In his debut season of 2021-2022 with Benfica, Paulo showcased his sprouting potential with 17 appearances in first team league matches.
In a turn of events, January 2023 saw Paulo shifting clubs. Leaving Benfica, he was loaned to Paços de Ferreira in the Liga Portugal 2, where he completed 13 first team appearances and scored two goals. Come September of the same year, Paulo's journey brought him to Scotland, when he transferred to Celtic on loan. He made a commendable mark, with 22 appearances and three goals for Celtic in the 2023-2024 season alone.
Paulo's essence cloaked the Celtic grounds as he came to permanently belong to Celtic in August 2024. The club paid homage to his talent with a substantial amount of £3.5m. Continuing to don his protective armour of green and white, Paulo made considerable contributions during the 2024-2025 season with 28 appearances and two goals. Despite the ongoing season of 2025-2026 being in its budding stage, Paulo has already made 7 appearances and continues to be a robust pillar of the Celtic team.
Showing versatility and commitment, Paulo participated in a number of competitions in the 2025-2026 season, barely resting his laurels. This includes the League and Scottish Cups for Celtic, making appearances as both a starter and a substitute, and the UEFA U21 Qualifiers for Portugal U21 scoring one goal. He also participated in the Europa League for Celtic, making appearances both as a substitute and a starter.
