Arsenal have reached an agreement with Newcastle United to sign club captain Bruno Guimaraes in a deal worth £75 million, paving the way for the Brazil international to complete a medical ahead of his move to the Emirates Stadium.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been given permission to leave Newcastle’s pre-season preparations and travel to London after the two clubs finally ended weeks of negotiations with a compromise over the transfer fee.
Arsenal’s opening approach was rejected, with Newcastle determined not to lose their captain unless their valuation was met. The Gunners eventually returned with an improved offer, allowing the deal to move forward.
Guimaraes had informed Newcastle earlier in the summer that he wanted to join Arsenal should an acceptable bid arrive. Although the Magpies were reluctant to sell one of their most influential players, they agreed to the transfer after their financial demands were satisfied.
The Brazilian joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022 in a deal worth around £40 million and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. During his time at St James’ Park, he made 195 appearances, scored 31 goals and captained the club to domestic silverware before deciding to seek a new challenge.
Newcastle had explored every avenue to keep Guimaraes, but the midfielder remained respectful throughout the process. He joined the squad for their training camp in Spain and maintained a professional approach while negotiations continued, something the club appreciated after previous transfer sagas involving high-profile departures.
The sale also continues a dramatic summer at St James’ Park.
Following the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes’ exit will take Newcastle’s income from player sales to more than £240 million, while former manager Eddie Howe also left the club earlier in the window.
For Arsenal, the signing represents another major statement of intent.
Mikel Arteta has already assembled one of the strongest midfields in Europe, featuring Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The arrival of Guimaraes adds another world-class option as Arsenal look to defend their Premier League title and mount another serious challenge for the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners are also expected to continue strengthening before the transfer window closes, with a left-sided attacker remaining high on Arteta’s wishlist. However, securing Guimaraes is regarded as one of the club’s biggest pieces of business this summer.
