Juan Bernat joins SL Benfica on season-long loan

Born in the town of Cullera in Spain’s Valencian Community, Bernat signed for Valencia CF in 2000, aged seven, and would go on to make his professional debut there 11 years later, on 27th August 2011, in a La Liga match against Racing de Santander. After three seasons in his country of birth, where he totalled 74 appearances, three goals and seven assists, Bernat moved to Bayern Munich, where he won his first few major trophies (in the form of the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Bundesliga titles as well as the 2016 DFB-Pokal) and celebrated his first-ever Spain call-up with a goal against Luxembourg in October 2014.

The Spain international was then signed by Paris Saint-Germain in the 2018 summer transfer window, with the left-back featuring 41 times in his first season at the club and playing a key role in the Ligue 1 title win at the end of that campaign. He also shone particularly brightly in the UEFA Champions League, scoring away to Napoli as well as at home to Liverpool and Manchester United.

Over the course of the following campaign, Bernat continued his impressive displays and won the quadruple – Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue and the Trophée des Champions – with the club. In the space of five years and 128 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, the Spaniard has racked up eight goals and 15 assists, with the 30-year-old also boasting 11 caps and one goal for La Roja.

Paris Saint-Germain would like to wish Juan an excellent season ahead with SL Benfica.