Arsenal Complete £75 Million Signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle

Premier League winners Arsenal have finalized the acquisition of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for a reported £75 million ($101.2 million), announced by both clubs on Saturday.

The Brazilian midfielder, who spent four and a half seasons at Newcastle, has committed to a long-term deal with the Gunners, ending their 22-year wait for a top-flight English league crown last season.

At 28 years old, Guimaraes is the standout signing of Arsenal’s summer transfer window so far, joining fellow new players Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's Sporting Director on the Signing

"With Bruno joining us, we are further strengthening the heart of our team," said Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta. "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. Bruno will allow Mikel (Arteta) to further develop our playing style and will also increase our internal competitiveness, which is essential for maintaining the standards required when we are aiming to win major trophies."

The transfer fee was not officially disclosed, though Newcastle confirmed it ranks among the top 10 highest fees ever received for a player aged 28 or older.

Guimaraes had been linked with Arsenal before, back in January 2022, but instead moved from Lyon to Newcastle at that time. Now he joins manager Mikel Arteta in north London after scoring 31 goals in 195 appearances for the Magpies.

During his time under coach Eddie Howe, Guimaraes helped Newcastle end a 54-year wait for a major trophy by winning the 2023 League Cup.

Guimaraes Reflects on His Departure

"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," Guimaraes said in Newcastle's statement. "I fell in love with this place. I really mean that."

Newcastle parted ways with Eddie Howe last week, appointing German Matthias Jaissle as his replacement.

Guimaraes, who represented Brazil at the recent World Cup, will compete for midfield spots alongside Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino at Arsenal.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Arsenal begin their season against Manchester City in the Community Shield next Sunday.
• They start Premier League title defense versus newly-promoted Coventry five days later.
• Newcastle open their campaign hosting Liverpool at St James' Park on August 23.