Bernardo Araya

Bernardo Jesús Araya Ponce is a Chilean futsal player who plays as a defender for Spanish club. Besides Chile, he has played in Spain, Argentina, France and Brazil.

Career

As a youth footballer, Araya was with both Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile at under-17 and under-18 level, respectively. Next he spent a season with Deportes Tocopilla.
In 2013 he switched to futsal after a trial to join Chile national futsal team alongside his best friend. Having played for both Palestino and Deportes Concepción in his homeland, in 2018 he moved to Argentine side Newell's Old Boys.
As a member of Newell's Old Boys, he got three consecutive promotions and played at all categories of the Argentine futsal.
In 2021, he moved to French side, becoming the first Chilean futsal player to be transferred to Europe.
Due to a serious knee injury, he returned to Argentina in 2022 and joined, winning the league title and the Copa Argentina.
In 2023, he joined Brazilian club Yeesco Sercesa in the Liga Gaúcha, becoming the first Chilean to play in the Brazilian futsal and winning the Série Ouro of the Federação Gaúcha. The next season, he switched to, becoming the first Chilean to play in the LNF, the premier brazilian futsal league.
In August 2024, Araya joined Spanish club Burela FS in the Primera División de Futsal becoming the first Chilean to play in the Spanish futsal. On 2 July 2025, he switched to.

International career

Araya has taken part of the Chile national futsal team since under-23 level, becoming the team captain at senior level.

Personal life

Araya is the younger brother of Karen Araya, a Chilean professional footballer.

Honours

Yeesco Sercesa

Copa dos Campeões: 2023
Taça Farroupilha: 2023
Série Ouro - Federação Gaúcha: 2023