Arsenal have officially signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United in a deal worth £75 million, bringing the Brazilian to the Emirates Stadium.
The 28-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, with the club holding the option to extend by a further 12 months.
Guimaraes had made his desire to join the Premier League champions clear earlier in the summer, setting the wheels in motion for his departure from Tyneside.
The Brazil international described the transfer as one of the “toughest decisions” of his life, acknowledging the deep connection he had built with Newcastle during his time there.
“This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me,” he said, reflecting on his four years at the club.
“But I wanted to experience something new in my life. I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family.”
Newcastle United responded to the departure with a dignified statement, saying they wished Guimaraes and his family well following his exit.
Guimaraes had left Newcastle’s training camp in La Manga, Spain, earlier this week to finalise the transfer after a breakthrough in negotiations between the two clubs.
He revealed that several of his future Arsenal team-mates had already been in contact, including fellow Brazilian Gabriel and midfielder Declan Rice.
Rice, who had faced Guimaraes many times as a rival in the centre of the park, sent a light-hearted message, telling him “come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends.”
Guimaraes was clearly motivated by the prospect of competing for major honours, making no secret of his ambitions ahead of his time at the Emirates.
“I’m at the point of my life, I think I need a challenge like this,” he said, speaking with evident enthusiasm about the move.
“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.”
The midfielder originally joined a Newcastle side in relegation trouble back in January 2022 and proved to be a transformative figure under head coach Eddie Howe.
He became the first captain in seven decades to lift a major domestic trophy for the club, leading Newcastle to victory over Liverpool in the 2025 EFL Cup final.
Guimaraes also played a key role in Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League in both 2023 and 2025, cementing his status as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
However, Newcastle’s fortunes dipped last season as they slipped to 12th place in the Premier League, a downturn that appears to have influenced Guimaraes in his decision to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
