Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle in a £75 million deal, with the Brazilian midfielder putting pen to paper on a four-year contract that includes a further one-year option. He’ll wear the No.39 shirt at the Emirates as he begins a new chapter after four years at St James’ Park.
Guimaraes’ Message on Joining Arsenal
Speaking after the move was confirmed, Guimaraes said he felt genuinely excited about the opportunity, describing his conversations with sporting director Andrea Berta and head coach Mikel Arteta as the moment he knew he was ready for a new challenge in his career. He described himself as a “warrior” for the club going forward, promising to give everything and never give up as Arsenal look to build on their title-winning season.
Berta welcomed the signing warmly, describing Guimaraes as a player of strong mentality and leadership who strengthens the heart of Arsenal’s squad. He pointed to Guimaraes’ ability to operate as both a defensive midfielder and a box-to-box presence, combining consistent quality with end product, and said the Brazilian’s arrival would help further develop Arsenal’s playing style while sharpening competition for places — something Berta views as essential for a squad chasing major honours.
An Emotional Newcastle Exit
Guimaraes described leaving Newcastle as one of the toughest decisions of his career, reflecting on how the club was in a difficult position when he first arrived and how proud he is of what was achieved together during his time there. He spoke warmly of falling in love with the city and the club from his very first day, crediting the supporters, his team-mates, former head coach Eddie Howe and everyone connected with Newcastle for making him and his family feel welcome.
He also thanked the club’s ownership, chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jamie Reuben, along with senior figures David Hopkinson and Ross Wilson, acknowledging the respect shown to him throughout the process and the club’s genuine efforts to convince him to stay. Guimaraes said the decision to leave ultimately came down to wanting a new challenge for himself and his family, while expressing confidence that Newcastle remain in good hands under new head coach Matthias Jaissle following a positive conversation with him. He closed his farewell message by thanking supporters from the heart, saying he will always be proud to have been part of the club’s journey.
A Landmark Fee for Newcastle
Newcastle confirmed the £75 million fee ranks among the ten highest transfer fees ever received for a player aged 28 or over, and represents a record for a player of Guimaraes’ specific age and position combination. His exit takes Newcastle’s total player sales this summer beyond £240 million, following Anthony Gordon’s £69.3 million move to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali’s £100 million switch to Tottenham, during what has been a turbulent few months at the club that also saw Eddie Howe depart as head coach.
Guimaraes’ Newcastle Legacy
Having joined from Lyon for £40 million back in 2022, Guimaraes made 195 appearances for Newcastle, scoring 31 goals and playing a central role in the club’s Carabao Cup triumph — a major piece of major silverware for a club that had gone decades without a trophy before his arrival.
A Deal Handled “Immaculately,” According to Newcastle
Newcastle had been determined to keep their captain and would have rejected any offer had Guimaraes not made his own wishes clear. Sources close to the process describe the club as having insisted on their own valuation throughout, refusing to budge from figures well above the £40-45 million initially discussed with agents back in June, and only sanctioning the move once satisfied Guimaraes handled the situation properly — including reporting as normal to the club’s pre-season training camp in Spain. Newcastle are said to feel Guimaraes complied with their wishes fully throughout, avoiding any repeat of the disruption seen during Alexander Isak’s exit to Liverpool last summer, with both parties insisting relations remain positive despite the transfer taking longer than either club may have wanted.
Quick Facts: Guimaraes’ Arsenal Move
- Fee: £75m
- Contract: Four years, plus one-year option
- Squad number: No.39
- Newcastle career: 195 appearances, 31 goals, Carabao Cup winner
- Fee ranking: Top-10 highest ever for a player aged 28+
- Newcastle’s summer sales total: £240m+
