Guimaraes seals Arsenal move after transfer saga

Soccer

Arsenal have completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United in a deal reportedly worth up to £75m. 

Guimaraes had been a long-term target for the Premier League champions, and the Brazilian has finally put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the option of a further year. 

The 28-year-old becomes Arsenal’s third summer signing, following Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis through the doors at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, and became an instant hit on Tyneside. He made 195 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions, scoring 31 goals as well as providing 31 assists. 

He also captained Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years in the EFL Cup final in 2025, as Eddie Howe’s team beat Liverpool 2-1.

Newcastle wanted to keep Guimaraes, but he was desperate to secure a move to the Gunners.

“I feel amazing. I’m glad for the opportunity. Since the first time I spoke to [Andrea] Berta and Mikel [Arteta], I was excited,” Guimaraes told Arsenal’s website.

“I just felt inside of me that I need a new challenge in my life and to be an Arsenal player is going to be an exciting challenge in my life.

“I’m so excited to join you. I will give you my best, I promise. I’m your warrior, I’ll never give up. Hopefully we can create many, many good memories together.”

A force of nature.

Guimaraes is a Gunner pic.twitter.com/E7k4mIHICg

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 8, 2026

Guimaraes will further improve the Gunners’ midfield following their first Premier League title triumph in 22 years last season. He has won more duels (1,030) and fouls (410) than any other player in the top-flight since making his debut in the competition in February 2022. 

In fact, the only central midfielder to cover more distance than the Brazilian (1,641km) is new midfield partner Declan Rice (1,703km), though Guimaraes has often been a thorn in Arsenal’s side over the last few years. 

Guimaraes has covered more distance (98.6 km), won more duels (71) and committed more fouls (17) against Arsenal than he has against any other side since his Premier League debut.

Arsenal are still in the hunt to strengthen the left-hand side of their attack, having missed out on the blockbuster signing of Vinicius Junior after he signed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid. 

Guimaraes is, however, yet another big name to leave Newcastle this summer, with Anthony Gordon joining Barcelona and Sandro Tonali departing for Tottenham.

He could make his competitive debut for the Gunners in the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16, with Arsenal getting their Premier League title defence up and running five days later at home to newly promoted Coventry City. 

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