Celtic’s Paulo Bernardo joins Górnik Zabrze on loan with option to buy
Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo joins Górnik Zabrze on loan with an option to buy, as Celtic look to offload a fringe squad player.
Out-of-favour Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo has left the Scottish champions to join Polish top-flight side Górnik Zabrze on a season-long loan deal that includes an option to buy. The 24-year-old Portuguese international departs Parkhead after making 64 appearances for Celtic, scoring 7 goals, since initially arriving on loan from Benfica in September 2023, with more than half of those coming as a substitute.
Despite featuring regularly during his first season on loan and then signing permanently in August 2024, Bernardo fell down the pecking order under manager Martin O’Neill. He last started a competitive match for Celtic in February and was omitted from the squad for Monday’s 1-0 Scottish Premiership season-opening win over Dundee.
Bernardo’s loan deal was announced on Tuesday evening, with Górnik Zabrze preparing for a crucial Europa League third qualifying round first leg against Hungarian side Ferencváros in Budapest on Wednesday. Górnik finished as runners-up in the Polish Ekstraklasa last season and are bolstering their midfield options ahead of the continental tie.