Bruno Guimarães is preparing to leave Newcastle’s pre-season camp in southern Spain and travel to London ahead of a £75m transfer to Arsenal. The departing Newcastle captain is expected to complete his medical in north London within the next few days after the clubs reached a compromise over the price.
Arsenal originally intended to spend no more than £60m on the Brazilian midfielder. Guimarães turns 29 in November and has two years left on his contract, while Newcastle had insisted on receiving at least £80m.
Newcastle Accept the Departure of a Key Midfielder
Newcastle were under no financial pressure to sell Guimarães after Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona and Sandro Tonali moved to Tottenham earlier in the summer. The club would have preferred to retain a central figure in the team that won the League Cup in 2025.
Since arriving from Lyon in January 2022, Guimarães has become one of Newcastle’s most influential players. The team frequently struggled to win when he was absent from the pitch. Across 153 league appearances, the midfielder scored 30 goals and registered 26 assists.
Guimarães also helped Eddie Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League twice and developed a strong relationship with the supporters. His departure is expected to affect Newcastle fans even more deeply than Alexander Isak’s controversial move to Liverpool last year.
The Brazilian had already decided to join Arsenal before Howe stepped down as Newcastle manager last week. Guimarães travelled to La Manga on Monday to meet incoming coach Matthias Jaissle, but reportedly made clear that he wanted to leave and could not be convinced to change his mind.
The conversation is believed to have remained respectful, contrasting sharply with the tension surrounding Isak’s exit during the previous summer.
Lyon Set to Benefit From the Transfer
Lyon are expected to receive approximately £7m from the deal. A sell-on clause gives the French club 20% of the profit Newcastle earn from Guimarães’ transfer.
Arsenal have already approved Christian Norgaard’s £7m move to Everton in preparation for the Brazilian’s arrival. Once the midfield deal is completed, the club are expected to increase their efforts to recruit a defender and another forward before the transfer window closes.
Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa is among Arsenal’s defensive targets. Liverpool could also enter the race, while Mikel Arteta needs additional cover because William Saliba’s back problem is expected to keep him unavailable for an extended period.
Villa reportedly value Konsa at £60m. Arsenal are reluctant to meet that price because the England international has less than two years remaining on his current contract.
Arsenal Continue Their Search for Attacking Reinforcements
The north London club have also expressed an interest in Guimarães’ Brazil teammate Vinícius Júnior. However, Arsenal are considering alternative targets in case the forward chooses to remain at Real Madrid.
Julián Álvarez is another option under discussion. Barcelona sporting director Deco is expected to meet Atlético Madrid representatives on Wednesday in an attempt to secure the Argentine, but Arsenal still hope they can persuade the 26-year-old to move to England.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola has also been linked with Arteta’s team. Liverpool are interested in the same player, although the European champions reportedly value him at around £145m.
