Born on the 24th of January, 2002 in Portugal, Paulo Bernardo Gonçalves Bernardo, or better known simply as Paulo Bernardo, is a midfielder who has primarily taken centre stage for Celtic. Standing at 5 feet and 10 inches tall (1.8m), and tipping the scales at 12 stone and 1 pound (77kg), he brings both physical capability and skill to the field, donning the number 28 jersey for the Hoops. Apart from his club career, Paulo has also taken turns on the international field, representing Portugal at the U21 level.
An evaluation per Transfermarkt plays him at a market value of around £5million, with his current contract at Celtic set to run out only on the 30th of June, 2029.
It was in July of 2010 that Paulo Bernardo ventured into his footballing career with Benfica as a trainee. Later, in the 2021-2022 season, he made his mark with 17 appearances for the first team. However, the following year saw a move to Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, where he enjoyed a short six-month stint, contributing with 13 matches and two goals.
But it was in September 2023, when Paulo Bernardo was transferred on loan from Benfica to Celtic, he found his true calling. In the 2023-2024 season at Parkhead, Paulo managed 22 appearances and three goals. His strong performances in his inaugural season led to Celtic securing a permanent transfer for the Portuguese player for the sum of £3.5m in August 2024. He continued to impress in the 2024-2025 season with 23 first-team appearances and two goals.
Paulo Bernardo's time at Celtic has not just been confined to domestic football. He has had numerous participations in multiple tournaments, such as the Champions League 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, the Scottish League Cup 2024-2025, and has also held his own in the Scottish Cup of the same season. In addition, he represented his country in the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers in 2024-2025, scoring an impressive four goals in nine starts.
