Paulo Bernardo, also known as 'Paulo Bernardo' Gonçalves Bernardo, was born on 24 January 2002 in Portugal. A force to be reckoned in midfield, primarily as a central midfielder, he now plies his trade for Celtic with the number 28 emblazoned on his jersey. This 5ft 10in (1.8m) modern gladiator weighs in at 12st 1lb (77kg), and at 23, maintains an impressively athletic build.
Bernardo has also worn the colours of the Portugal U21 national team, having demonstrated his footballing acumen early in his career. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is approximately £5m, respecting a promising future filled with immense potential.
Tracking the journey our number 28 has made in his career, Bernardo moved into professional football as a trainee with Benfica in the Liga Portugal in July 2010. Marking his debut 2021 - 2022 season at Benfica with 17 caps in league matches, Bernardo showed an early predilection for competitive match play. He was then loaned to Paços de Ferreira in the Liga Portugal 2 in January 2023, where he featured in 13 matches and netted an impressive two goals.
September 2023 culminated in a move that would endear Bernardo to the Celtic faithful. He moved to the green part of Glasgow, joining Celtic in the Scottish Premiership for a season-long loan. In his first season (2023 - 2024) he made 22 league appearances, finding the back of the net thrice. Following a successful loan spell, Bernardo sealed a permanent move to Celtic in August 2024 for a fee of around £3.5m.
His contributions to the team have been significant, with the 2024 - 2025 season seeing him make 28 league appearances and score two goals. Bernardo is set to continue dazzling Celtic Park in the 2025 - 2026 season, further engraving his name in the Hoops' history. His prowess is not contained within domestic borders either; he has represented Celtic in the Champions League and Scottish Cup, making numerous starts and substitute appearances.
Off the pitch, Bernardo's contract with Celtic currently runs until 30 June 2029, providing many more years for him to cement his legacy at Celtic Park.
