João Paulo Moreira Fernandes

João Paulo, full name João Paulo Moreira Fernandes, is a Cape Verdean central midfielder born in Ribeira Grande on 26 May 1998. He developed at Tchadense before beginning his senior career with Sporting Praia. In 2018, he moved to Portugal, representing Maria da Fonte and then Leça, where his left-footed play also saw him used at left-back and wide midfield. At Feirense, João Paulo increasingly operated centrally and refined his ability to progress play from deeper positions. He joined Sheriff Tiraspol in 2023, gaining European experience in Champions League qualifying and the Europa League. After moving to Oțelul Galați in 2025, he became a deeper midfielder before joining FCSB in February 2026. João Paulo has represented Cape Verde since debuting against Senegal in 2021 and was involved in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.