João Paulo has quietly built one of the most interesting careers to come out of Cape Verde football.
From island leagues to European competitions, this midfielder’s journey tells a story of persistence — and it comes with a financial trail worth tracing.
João Paulo’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | João Paulo Moreira Fernandes |
| Date of Birth | May 26, 1998 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean |
| Height / Weight | 1.80 m / 77 kg |
| Position | Central Midfielder / Left-back |
| Current Club | FCSB (Romania Liga I) |
| Turned Professional | 2017 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$400,000 |
| Annual Salary (est.) | ~$600,000+ (peak MLS contract) |
| International Caps | 40 (1 goal) |
Early Life & Career
João Paulo Moreira Fernandes was born on May 26, 1998, in Santo Antão, Cape Verde — one of the Atlantic island nation’s most rugged and remote islands.
Growing up in a country where football infrastructure is limited, he started his career with local clubs before earning a move to professional football.
His first recorded club appearance came with Tchadense in 2017 in the Campeonato Caboverdiano de Futebol.
A year later, he moved to Sporting Praia, where he made 10 appearances and won the Taça Nacional de Cabo Verde in 2018 — his first senior honor.
That cup winner’s medal opened doors in Portugal. In 2018–19, João Paulo joined Maria da Fonte in the Campeonato de Portugal, the third tier of Portuguese football, where he scored 3 goals in 30 league appearances.
It was a stepping stone that showed European clubs he could compete away from home.
Professional Career
After impressing at Maria da Fonte, João Paulo earned a move to Leça FC in 2019, where he spent two full seasons in the Campeonato de Portugal.
He scored 5 goals in 41 league games for Leça before stepping up to the Liga Portugal 2 — Portugal’s second division — with Feirense in 2021.
His two seasons at Feirense were arguably his biggest leap. He made 56 league appearances and scored 4 goals in Portugal’s second division, catching the eye of clubs outside Portugal.
That form earned him a transfer to FC Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova in 2023, where he competed in both the Moldovan Super Liga and the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
According to Transfermarkt’s player profile, his market value climbed steadily through this phase of his career.
At Sheriff, he helped the club win the Cupa Moldovei in 2024–25, adding a second cup title to his name.
In the summer of 2025, he signed a contract with Oțelul Galați in Romania’s Liga I before transferring mid-season to FCSB — Romania’s most decorated club — on a deal running until June 2028.
As of May 2026, he has recorded 34 appearances combined across both Romanian clubs this season, contributing 2 goals and 3 assists.
On the international stage, João Paulo has earned 40 caps for Cape Verde with 1 international goal — a strike against Burkina Faso in the 2023 AFCON qualifier.
He also featured in the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and Cape Verde’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a historic landmark that includes João Paulo’s contribution.
João Paulo’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, João Paulo’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $400,000.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts across Cape Verde, Portugal, Moldova, and Romania, with a career arc that has steadily moved toward better-paid European leagues.
Contract
João Paulo currently plays for FCSB in Romania’s Liga I on a contract running until June 30, 2028.
He joined the club during the 2025–26 season after a stint at Oțelul Galați, which he joined in July 2025 on a free transfer.
The FCSB deal represents the most prestigious club contract of his career so far, given FCSB’s stature as Romania’s most successful football club and their participation in European competition.
Salary
Exact salary figures for João Paulo at FCSB are not officially disclosed. Based on his market valuation of approximately €695,800 and comparable Liga I player earnings, his estimated annual wage sits in the range of €100,000–€150,000 per year.
Earlier in his career, salary data from Capology shows that when he played at a different level, Brazilian-born players in comparable positions earned between $250,000 and $1.4 million annually in MLS — though that data references a different João Paulo (Brazilian, not Cape Verdean).
For the Cape Verdean João Paulo specifically, salary at the Liga Portugal 2 level and Moldovan Super Liga level would have been modest — likely €2,000–€5,000 per month.
His FCSB deal likely represents a meaningful step up, given the club’s Champions League qualifier history.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | League | Est. Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Maria da Fonte | Campeonato de Portugal (PT) | ~€15,000–€20,000 |
| 2019–21 | Leça FC | Campeonato de Portugal (PT) | ~€18,000–€25,000/yr |
| 2021–23 | Feirense | Liga Portugal 2 (PT) | ~€30,000–€50,000/yr |
| 2023–25 | Sheriff Tiraspol | Moldovan Super Liga | ~€80,000–€120,000/yr |
| 2025–26 | Oțelul / FCSB | Romania Liga I | ~€100,000–€150,000/yr |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting Praia | 2018 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Maria da Fonte | 2018–19 | 33 | 4 | — |
| Leça FC | 2019–21 | 45 | 5 | — |
| Feirense | 2021–23 | 64 | 4 | — |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2023–25 | 59 | 6 | — |
| Oțelul Galați | 2025–26 | 22 | 1 | — |
| FCSB | 2025–26 | 15 | 1 | — |
| Career Total | 248 | 21 | — |
| National Team | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | 40 | 1 |
FAQs
What is João Paulo’s net worth?
João Paulo has an estimated net worth of around $400,000. He earned this through professional club contracts in Portugal, Moldova, and Romania, with his FCSB deal being his most lucrative to date.
Which club does João Paulo play?
He plays for FCSB in Romania’s Liga I. He joined the club during the 2025–26 season and holds a contract running until June 30, 2028.
How many caps has João Paulo earned for Cape Verde?
João Paulo has earned 40 international caps for Cape Verde and scored 1 goal — against Burkina Faso in a 2023 AFCON qualifier.
Did João Paulo play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes, João Paulo is listed among the Cape Verde players who participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His Wikipedia profile confirms his involvement in the tournament.
Where was João Paulo born?
He was born on May 26, 1998, in Santo Antão, Cape Verde — a volcanic island in the North Atlantic and one of the country’s largest islands.
