João Paulo

Following his move to Oţelul, Paulo's current-season form is up 129% on last season (Season 14→32), while his Rating eased 50→27. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	FCSB	1	0	0	6.7	—	—
2025/26	FCSB	16	2	0	6.94	—	—
2025/26	Oţelul · 3rd	20	1	3	7.16	24	20
2024/25	Sheriff Tiraspol	13	0	0	—	—	—
2023/24	Sheriff Tiraspol	20	4	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Feirense · 8th	32	3	0	—	50	14

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 4 earlier seasons in the full career.

Cape Verde · international

Side	Apps	G
Cape Verde Islands	28	1

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerDefensive midfielder

João Paulo is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder at FCSB, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 3 assists in 20 appearances, a Season grade of 32, top 42% of Liga I defensive midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 27.3, ranking 126th of 246 in the Liga I. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter (76.5% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Paulo.

Judged on this season alone, Paulo graded 32 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 10th of 24 of the 24 defensive midfielders in the Liga I, on 1 goal, 3 assists and 3 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 14 → 32). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 27, 12th of 24 of the 24 defensive midfielders in the Liga I. At 28 Paulo is in his prime years, and a market index of 3.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Paulo is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upRemarkably consistentStepped up 2025/26

Current potential12th of 24 defensive midfielders · Liga I Current season10th of 24 defensive midfielders · Liga I 10th-best defensive midfielder in the Liga I 126th in the Liga I · potential 12th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Liga I

27.3

Ratingi

12th of 24 defensive midfielders

32.3

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

76.5%

Minutes

a regular starter

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · FCSB finished 3rd of 6 · a mid-table side

Apps

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 20 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 3 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 76.5% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.15 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 27.3, Paulo carries the 12th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Liga I of 24. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %76.5%

Available fixtures39 of 41

Goals / 900.154

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.154

Defensive actions / 903

Player flow

Goal involvements4

Shot conversion %11.1

Shot accuracy %50

Pass accuracy %83

Dribble success %66.7

Cards / 900.11

Foul involvement / 902.587

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~6), then tapers with age. At 28, Paulo sits on 3.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Paulo's projected Rating — 27.3 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Liga I with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Shots on target9

Shots18

Passing

Assists3

Pass accuracy83%

Possession

Successful dribbles24

Dribble success66.7%

Fouls won36

Defending

Tackles30

Interceptions19

Blocks5

Fouls committed11

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

OţelulJun 2026 – nowFree

PPolitehnica Iasiuntil Jun 2026

OţelulJul 2025 – Jun 2026Free Transfer

SSheriff Tiraspoluntil Jul 2025

FCSBFeb 2026 – Jul 2025

OţelulDec 2025 – Feb 2026Free

PPolitehnica Iasi(back from loan)Dec 2025 – Dec 2025

OOrdabasy(on loan)Mar 2025 – Dec 2025

PPolitehnica IasiJan 2025 – Mar 2025

ZZimbruuntil Jan 2025

SSheriff TiraspolJul 2023 – Jan 2025Free

Feirenseuntil Jul 2023

ZZimbruJul 2023 – Jul 2023

LLeçaSept 2022 – Jul 2023

SSalgueirosuntil Sept 2022

FeirenseJul 2021 – Sept 2022

LLeçauntil Jul 2021

About João Paulo

João Paulo Moreira Fernandes is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for FCSB, born on May 26, 1998 in Ribeira Grande, standing 180 cm tall. He is from Cape Verde. FCSB currently sit 3rd of 6 in the Liga I.

This season

In the current season, João Paulo has made 20 appearances with 1 goal and 3 assists across 1,635 minutes, averaging a 7.15 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 2 yellow cards. His season has spanned the Liga I and the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification. Though primarily a defensive midfielder, he has also lined up in defence this season.

When João Paulo plays, FCSB's record this season is 19W-7D-10L — and his match ratings average 7.21 at home against 6.91 on the road.

Recent matches

May 29, 2026: 2-1 win away at Dinamo Bucuresti (120 minutes, 6.9 rating)
May 24, 2026: 4-3 win at home vs FC Botosani (81 minutes, 1 goal, 7.9 rating)
May 11, 2026: 0-0 draw at home vs Unirea Slobozia (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
May 1, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Csikszereda (71 minutes, 7.5 rating)
April 24, 2026: 3-1 win at home vs Petrolul Ploiesti (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
April 20, 2026: 3-2 win away at Farul Constanta (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.6 rating)
April 11, 2026: 4-0 win at home vs Oţelul (64 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 3, 2026: 2-3 loss away at FC Botosani (90 minutes, 6.5 rating)
March 20, 2026: 1-0 win at home vs Uta Arad (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
March 15, 2026: 0-0 draw at home vs Metaloglobus (14 minutes, 6.6 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates João Paulo at 27.3 with a Season form score of 32.3, ranking 126th of 246 defensive midfielders in the Liga I. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the Cupa. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, João Paulo has totalled 198 club appearances with 17 goals and 3 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 32 appearances for Feirense.

João Paulo's career has also included time at Oţelul, PPolitehnica Iasi, SSheriff Tiraspol, OOrdabasy, ZZimbru, Feirense, LLeça and SSalgueiros.

On the international stage, João Paulo has represented Cape Verde Islands — 28 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · FCSB finished 3rd of 6 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points