Born in Portugal on the 24th of January, 2002, Paulo Bernardo - full name Paulo Gonçalves Bernardo - is a midfielder who primarily operates in a central role. As of present, he plays for Celtic, wearing the number 28 shirt. Standing at 5ft 10in (1.8m) tall, and weighing 12st 1lb (77kg), he is also an international presence, having represented Portugal at the U21 level.
According to data gleaned from Transfermarkt, his current market value is around £3.8m. He penned a lengthy contract with Celtic, which extends for another 4 years and 4 months, and is set to expire on the 30th of June, 2029.
Bernardo's journey at Celtic can be traced back to 2023, following a transfer from his home country's Benfica. Initially, he was scouted as a trainee in July 2010, and made his debut during the 2021-2022 season, with 17 first team appearances under his belt. Prior to joining Celtic on loan in 2023, Paulo had a brief stint at Paços de Ferreira, where he scored twice in 13 league matches.
On his arrival in Glasgow in September 2023, Bernardo had an instant impact, scoring three goals over 22 league appearances in the 2023-2024 season. So talented was Paulo that Celtic decided to secure his services permanently in August 2024, dishing out a fee of £3.5m. Since making the move permanent, his presence has remained consistently strong in the squad, making 22 first team appearances and scoring twice in the ongoing 2024-2025 season.
Apart from his significant contributions in the league, Paulo's participation stretches beyond Scotland. He aided Celtic in the 2023-2024 Champions League with two starts and four substitute appearances, then went on to score in the 2024-2025 League Cup. Furthermore, Bernardo was instrumental in the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers 2024 - 2025 for Portugal U21, scoring four times in nine starts and making a solitary substitute appearance. Equally significant is his contribution in the Champions League 2024 - 2025 for Celtic, with two starts and six appearances off the bench.
