Di'Shon Joel Bernard (born 14 October 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday. Born in England, he plays for the Jamaica national team.

Di'Shon Bernard
Personal information
Full name Di'Shon Joel Bernard[1]
Date of birth (2000-10-14) 14 October 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Wandsworth, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Sheffield Wednesday
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2017 Chelsea
2017–2019 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Manchester United 0 (0)
2020–2021Salford City (loan) 30 (2)
2021–2022Hull City (loan) 26 (0)
2023Portsmouth (loan) 10 (0)
2023– Sheffield Wednesday 52 (1)
International career
2023– Jamaica 19 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Jamaica
CONCACAF Nations League
Bronze medal – third place 2024 United States Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:27, 21 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:31, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Bernard joined the Manchester United youth system in 2017. He made his professional debut for the club in a UEFA Europa League game against Astana in November 2019. He has also spent time on loan at Salford City, where he made 31 appearances in the 2020–21 season, and Hull City.

Club career

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Manchester United

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Bernard joined the Manchester United academy at the age of 16 in 2017, having previously progressed through Chelsea's youth system.[3] He made his senior debut in a Europa League match against Astana on 28 November 2019, however he scored an own goal as United lost 2–1.[4]

On 12 June 2023, it was announced that Bernard will be leaving Manchester United when his contract expires on 30 June.[5]

Loans

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Bernard moved on loan to League Two club Salford City on 16 October 2020.[6] His Salford debut came on 24 October, being brought on in the 61st minute as a substitute for Oscar Threlkeld in a 1–1 draw with Crawley Town.[7] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 December, scoring a header in stoppage time in a 2–1 loss to Carlisle United.[8] On 15 January 2021, the loan was extended to the end of the season.[9] Bernard would say that going out on loan to Salford was vital to his development as a player, and was hoping that by doing so he could follow in the footsteps of Axel Tuanzebe, who became a first-team regular after several loan spells.[10] He was cup-tied for Salford's victory in the 2020 EFL Trophy Final which was played in March 2021.[11]

On 30 July 2021, Bernard signed a season-long loan deal with Championship club Hull City.[12] He made his debut on 10 August 2021, in an EFL Cup first round match against Wigan Athletic which went to penalties after a 1–1 draw.[13]

On 31 January 2023, Bernard joined League One club Portsmouth on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[14]

Sheffield Wednesday

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On 31 July 2023, Bernard signed for Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.[15][16] Bernard made his Sheffield Wednesday debut in the EFL Cup against Stockport County[17] and his first league start later that month against Cardiff City.[18] Following the end of the 2023–24 season, the club had offered Bernard a new contract.[19] He signed a new contract to stay at the club on 18 July 2024.[20] He scored his maiden Owls goal against Blackpool on 17 September 2024 in the EFL Cup.[21] His first Championship goal came against Cardiff City in November 2024.[22]

International career

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Born in England, Bernard is Jamaican by descent.[23] He debuted for the Jamaica national team in a 2–1 friendly loss to Qatar on 15 June 2023.[24] Soon after his debut, he was named to the final 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[25]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 21 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United U21 2019–20[26] 4[a] 0 4 0
2020–21[27] 2[a] 0 2 0
2022–23[28] 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 7 0 7 0
Manchester United 2019–20[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 1 0
2020–21[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22[29] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Salford City (loan) 2020–21[27] League Two 30 2 1 0 0 0 31 2
Hull City (loan) 2021–22[29] Championship 26 0 1 0 1 0 28 0
Portsmouth (loan) 2022–23[28] League One 10 0 10 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2023–24[30] Championship 32 0 3 0 1 0 36 0
2024–25[31] Championship 20 1 0 0 3 1 23 2
Total 52 1 3 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 59 2
Career total 118 3 5 0 5 1 1 0 7 0 136 4
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 18 November 2024[32]
National team Year Apps Goals
Jamaica 2023 11 1
2024 8 0
Total 19 1
Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bernard goal.[32]
List of international goals scored by Di'Shon Bernard
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2 July 2023 Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States   Saint Kitts and Nevis 3–0 5–0 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Di'Shon Bernard: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Manchester United signing Aliou Traore among academy scholars". Manchester Evening News. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ^ Thompson, Gemma (28 November 2019). "FC Astana 2 Manchester United 1". Manchester United. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Bernard Confirms United Departure". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Man Utd defender Bernard joins Salford". BBC Sport. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  7. ^ Booth, Dominic (25 October 2020). "Paul Scholes gives verdict on Manchester United youngster after EFL debut". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Carlisle 2–1 Salford: United win in front of fans at Brunton Park". Sky Sports. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Bernard loan extended". Salford City FC. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. ^ Peach, Simon (15 February 2021). "From Old Trafford, to Salford, via Kazakhstan: Di'Shon Bernard's getting about". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Portsmouth v Salford: team news, likely line-ups, form guide and big-match odds for the Papa John's Trophy final at Wembley". portsmouth.co.uk. The News. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Di'Shon Bernard Signs On Loan". Hull City A.F.C. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Hull City 1–1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Di'Shon Bernard: Portsmouth sign defender on loan from Manchester United". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Owls sign international defender Di'Shon Bernard!". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday sign ex-Manchester United defender". BBC Sport. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Shootout victory sends Wednesday through". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Cardiff 2-1 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Owls confirm retained list". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Di'Shon Bernard extends Owls stay". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Blackpool 0-1 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Di'Shon Bernard on Cardiff draw and his first Championship goal". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  23. ^ "'Commitment is number one'". jamaica-gleaner.com. 15 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Live Commentary – Jamaica vs Qatar | 15.06.2023". Sky Sports.
  25. ^ Wheeler, Daniel (19 June 2023). "Demarai Gray named to Gold Cup squad". The Gleaner.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  28. ^ a b c "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Games played by Di'Shon Bernard in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Di'Shon Bernard". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
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  • Profile at the Sheffield Wednesday F.C. website