Paulo Bernardo, born on 24th January 2002, is a well-seasoned midfielder for Celtic from Portugal and he dons the number 28 jersey. Measuring 5ft 10in (1.8m) in height and tipping the scales at 12st 1lb (77kg), Paulo Bernardo, fully named 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, has also given performances on the global stage having played for the Portugal U21 national team.
With a noteworthy market value of nearly £3.5m according to Transfermarkt, Bernardo's football journey began in earnest during July 2010. At the tender age of eight, he found himself as a trainee at Benfica, a respected top-tier Portuguese team. Eventually, in the 2021 - 2022 season, 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo graced the field for 17 league matches with the main team.
Later, in January 2023, Paulo Bernardo was loaned to Paços de Ferreira, another Portuguese outfit. In his limited time there, Bernardo managed to score twice in 13 appearances in the 2022 - 2023 season.
In September 2023, Bernardo found a new home away from home, when he made his move to Celtic on loan. In his first season (2023 - 2024) with Celtic, Bernardo made a strong impression, scoring three goals in 22 league appearances. He then outdid himself in the following season (2024 - 2025) with two goals from 28 matches.
His performance impressed Celtic so much that by August 2024 they decided to bring him on a permanent basis with a transfer fee of around £3.5m. In the current 2025 - 2026 season at Celtic, 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo continues to contribute, having already made seven league appearances.
But his journey with Celtic was not limited to just the Premiership. He also took part in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 with two appearances as a substitute and the Scottish Cup 2025 - 2026 with one start. Not to mention, the UEFA U21 Qualifiers 2025 for Portugal U21, where he managed to score a goal in four appearances, and the Europa League 2025 - 2026 for Celtic with one start and five appearances as a substitute.
