Bruno Guimarães joins Arsenal in £75m transfer from Newcastle
Guimarães moves to Arsenal
Arsenal have completed the signing of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United for £75m. The midfielder has signed a four-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months. Guimarães, who was previously Newcastle’s captain, expressed that the move was one of the “toughest decisions” of his life.
The Brazil international indicated his desire to join the Premier League champions earlier this summer. He stated, “This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me. But I wanted to experience something new in my life. I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family.” Newcastle conveyed their best wishes to Guimarães and his family.
Guimarães departed Newcastle’s training camp in La Manga, Spain, earlier this week to finalize his transfer to Emirates Stadium after a breakthrough in negotiations. He mentioned receiving messages from future teammates, including fellow countryman Gabriel and midfielder Declan Rice. Rice reportedly messaged him, saying, “come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends.”
The midfielder shared his excitement, stating, “I’m at the point of my life, I think I need a challenge like this. I want to win trophies, I want to make history and I think I’m in the right place to do it. I’m so excited to start.”
Impact and aspirations
Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, welcomed Guimarães, highlighting his great mentality and quality. Berta noted that Guimarães will bring strong leadership and further strengthen the heart of the team. “As we have all seen, Bruno can play as a defensive midfielder and as a box-to-box player. He combines quality with quantity and has provided goals and assists for his team every year,” Berta added. He believes Guimarães will allow Mikel Arteta to further develop the team’s playing style and increase internal competitiveness, which is crucial for pursuing major trophies.
Guimarães had previously attracted interest from Arsenal on two occasions: in 2020 when he played for Athletico Paranaense in Brazil, and 18 months later during his time at Lyon before he moved to Newcastle. However, he expressed his desire to join Arsenal after his initial meeting with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta.
The arrival of Guimarães significantly enhances Arteta’s midfield options, adding to a squad that includes Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Guimarães himself acknowledged the quality of Arsenal’s midfield, calling it “one of the best in Europe.”
Guimarães joined Newcastle in January 2022 when the club was facing relegation challenges. He played a vital role in their improved performance under former head coach Eddie Howe. The Brazil international became the first captain in seven decades to lift a major domestic trophy for Newcastle after their victory over Liverpool in the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
He was also part of the squad that secured qualification for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025, before the team finished 12th in the Premier League last season. Guimarães’s statement to Newcastle fans expressed his deep connection to the club: “I fell in love with this place. I really mean that. From my first day, the supporters, my teammates, Eddie [Howe] and the staff, and everyone connected with the club made me and my family feel at home.”
He further elaborated on the difficulty of his decision, stating, “This is one of the toughest decisions of my life. When I arrived, the club was in a challenging position and I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together.” He thanked PIF, chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and Jamie Reuben, as well as David Hopkinson and Ross Wilson for their respect throughout the process, noting that they “did everything they could to keep me at Newcastle.”
Newcastle’s sporting director, Ross Wilson, indicated that the club had no option but to allow Guimarães to leave, explaining that the player had respectfully communicated his desire to depart. Newcastle had been keen to retain the Brazil international, who had two years remaining on his contract, along with a club-held option for a third year.
The agreed fee for Guimarães represents one of the top-10 highest transfer fees ever received for a player aged 28 or over, and a record fee for a player of his age and position combined. Guimarães joined Newcastle in 2022 from Lyon for £40m, making 195 appearances for the club and scoring 31 goals.
He had a positive conversation with Matthias Jaissle, the new manager, before his departure, and leaves knowing the club is in good hands. Guimarães will wear the No. 39 shirt for Arsenal.
Source: bbc.com
