Bernardo (footballer, born 1995)

Bernardo Fernandes da Silva Junior (born 14 May 1995), known simply as Bernardo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a full-back or centre-back for German Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.[3]

Bernardo
Bernardo with Red Bull Salzburg in 2021
Personal information
Full nameBernardo Fernandes da Silva Junior[1]
Date of birth (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birthSão Paulo, Brazil[2]
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s)Full-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team
VfL Bochum
Number5
Youth career
Audax São Paulo
2013–2014Red Bull Brasil
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2015Red Bull Brasil6(0)
2015Ponte Preta (loan)0(0)
2016Liefering1(0)
2016Red Bull Salzburg16(1)
2016–2018RB Leipzig40(1)
2018–2021Brighton & Hove Albion39(0)
2021Red Bull Salzburg (loan)14(1)
2021–2023Red Bull Salzburg37(0)
2023–VfL Bochum33(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 May 2024

Club career

Early career

Bernardo started his career at Audax São Paulo, before moving to Red Bull Brasil, the Brazilian Red Bull GmbH football team, in 2012. He made three appearances for the Red Bulls in the 2014 edition of the Campeonato Paulista Série A2, before being sent out on loan to Ponte Preta. He failed to make a single appearance for the Macaca, being selected three times for the bench, before being sent back to the Red Bulls.

In his final season with the Red Bulls, he made three appearances in the 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série D.

RB Leipzig

Bernardo joined Red Bull Salzburg on 1 January 2016 from Red Bull Brasil.[4] He made his Red Bull's debut on 7 February 2016 in the 2–1 Bundesliga victory over Admira.Bernardo was sent off in only his third Bundesliga game, against Rheindorf Altach for a second bookable offence.[5]

Bernardo joined RB Leipzig on 28 August 2016 for a reported fee of £3.4m.[6]

Bernardo made 32 appearances for Leipzig in his first season including playing in all 6 Champions League games. In his second season, he played 27 games for Leipzig.

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 5 July 2018, Bernardo joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Leipzig for £9 million.[7] Bernardo made his debut for the Sussex club on 11 August in a 2–0 away loss to Watford. He made a total of 22 Premier League appearances in his first season with Brighton. He scored his first goal for The Seagulls on 17 September 2020 in a 4–0 home victory over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.[8]

Loan to Red Bull Salzburg

On 19 January 2021, Bernardo returned to Red Bull Salzburg on a loan until the end of the season.[9] 5 days later he made his return to action for Salzburg coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute in a 2–0 away win at SCR Altach, in what also happened to be his 100th league appearance of his career.[10] On 27 January, Bernardo made his first start on his return in his second appearance starting in a 3–0 home victory over SV Ried, going off injured in the 61st minute after being caught up in a rumble.[11] He returned to action on 13 March, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 home victory over Admira.[12] On 1 May Bernardo came on as a 77th minute substitute replacing Zlatko Junuzović in the 2020–21 Austrian Cup Final, coming on 2–0 up over LASK, eventually winning the final 3–0 with an 88th minute goal scored by Enock Mwepu. This Bernardo's second Austrian Cup title with the club after winning the 2015–16 competition where he played whole match of that final.[13] Bernardo scored his first goal since his return on the 22 May, the last game of the season, as the already confirmed champions thrashed WSG Wattens 4–0 at home, with the return of fans in the game described by the Salzburg website as a 'Title Party.'[14]

Permanent return to Red Bull Salzburg

Bernardo signed for Salzburg on a permanent deal on 2 July 2021 after a successful loan spell in the second half of the previous season.[15] On 16 July 2021, Bernardo scored the opener in the Austrian Cup in a 4–1 away win against WSC Hertha Wels.[16] Bernardo helped Salzburg to a fourth consecutive double – his third overall with the club – and a ninth consecutive league title with another successful campaign.[17][18]

VfL Bochum

On 2 August 2023, Bernardo signed a two-year contract with VfL Bochum in Bundesliga.[19] He finished his first season at Bochum in 2023–24 as the player with most duels won in the league in 504 occasions.[20]

Personal life

Bernardo is the son of former Brazil international footballer Bernardo Fernandes da Silva.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 May 2024[22]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Red Bull Brasil2014003[a]030
2015Série D300030
Total3000003060
Ponte Preta (loan)2015Série A000000
Liefering2015–16Erste Liga100010
Red Bull Salzburg2015–16Austrian Bundesliga1303[b]0160
2016–17Austrian Bundesliga311[b]06[c]1102
Total161406100262
RB Leipzig2016–17Bundesliga22000220
2017–18Bundesliga1811[d]08[e]0271
Total401108000491
Brighton & Hove Albion2018–19Premier League2204[f]01[g]0270
2019–20Premier League1401[f]01[g]0160
2020–21Premier League301[f]03[g]171
Total39060510000501
Red Bull Salzburg2020–21 (loan)Austrian Bundesliga1411[b]00[h]0151
2021–22Austrian Bundesliga1903[b]13[i]0251
2022–23Austrian Bundesliga1804[b]05[j]0270
Total511818000672
Red Bull Salzburg combined total67212114100934
VFL Bochum2023–24Bundesliga3311[d]01[k]0351
Career total183420151221402347

Honours

Red Bull Salzburg

References