Celtic: Benfica's Paulo Bernardo joins on loan as Ismaila Soro is sold to Beitar Jerusalem
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Ismaila Soro (right) helped Arouca finish fifth in the Portuguese top flight
Celtic have confirmed the signing of Paulo Bernardo on loan from Benfica after selling fellow midfielder Ismaila Soro to Beitar Jerusalem.
Liel Abada has signed a new four-year contract but fellow winger Sead Haksabanovic has joined Stoke City on a season-long loan.
Portugal Under-21 cap Bernardo has played 14 times for Benfica.
But he ended last season on loan to Primeira Liga rivals Pacos de Ferreira as they suffered relegation.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he will "give us more strength in depth in that midfield area".
"He's already gained first-team experience at a top-class club in Benfica, which is something he will bring to Celtic," he told his club website.
Having joined Pacos de Ferreira in January, Bernardo went on to play 13 times as they finished second bottom of his country's top flight.
Earlier, Beitar announced that they have signed Ivorian Soro from Celtic for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with an option of another season with the club who finished eighth last season in Israel's top flight.
Soro played 43 times for Celtic, more than half of them as a substitute, since being signed from Israeli club Bnei Yehuda in 2020, but has not played for the first-team since February 2022.
He spent last season on loan to Arouca in the Portuguese top tier and was a regular starter in Portugal, playing 30 times as they finished fifth last season.
Greek club Aris thought they had secured his signing, but Beitar say he chose them over other offers "due to the connection with the heads of the club and of course with the coach, Yossi Aboksis".
The 21-year-old Abada had also been linked with a move from Celtic Park this summer.
"We know there was significant interest in Liel from other clubs, so we're delighted that he has committed his future to Celtic," Rodgers added. "His energy and ability are real assets to us and his delivery in terms of goals and assists from wide areas has been excellent."
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