João Paulo

Following his move to Oţelul, Paulo's current-season form is up 43% on last season (Season 14→20), while his Rating eased 50→24. 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	—	—
2026/27	Cape Verde Islands	2	0	0	7.2	—	—
2025/26	Cape Verde Islands	5	0	0	7.18	—	—
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	—	—	—
2022/23	Cape Verde Islands	3	0	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Feirense · 8th	32	3	0	—	50	14
2021/22	Feirense · 4th	24	1	0	—	46	5
2021/22	Cape Verde Islands	1	0	0	6.2	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year.

Scout report

Squad depthDefensive midfielder

João Paulo is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder at Oţelul, rated 24.2 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 161st of 318 on scout potential in the Liga I. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (46.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.97 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 20 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 16th of 36 of the 36 defensive midfielders in the Liga I, on 1 goal, 3 assists and 2.972 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 14 → 20). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 24, 17th of 36 of the 36 defensive midfielders in the Liga I. At 28 Paulo is in his prime years, and a market index of 2.5 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 potential17th of 36 defensive midfielders · Liga I Current season16th of 36 defensive midfielders · Liga I16th-best defensive midfielder in the Liga I161st in the Liga I · potential17th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Liga I

24.2

Ratingi

17th of 36 defensive midfielders

20.3

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

46.6%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.97

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

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

2.97

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.97 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

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.22 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.

Watch points

Game time. Only 46.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 24.2, Paulo carries the 17th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Liga I of 36. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.97 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. 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 %46.6%

Available fixtures39 of 39

Goals / 900.055

Assists / 900.165

Goal contribution / 900.22

Defensive actions / 902.972

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 (~4), then tapers with age. At 28, Paulo sits on 2.5, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Paulo's projected Rating — 24.2 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.