Arsenal have completed the signing of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for £75 million, with the Brazilian putting pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium. The move brings an end to a lengthy transfer saga that has spanned nearly two months.
Guimaraes becomes Arsenal's second most expensive signing
The 28-year-old, who captained Newcastle, has become the Gunners' second most expensive acquisition of all time, trailing only Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham for £105 million. Guimaraes left Newcastle's pre-season training camp in La Manga, Spain, to travel to North London to finalise the move.
In an emotional farewell, Guimaraes said: "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. I fell in love with this place. I really mean that."
Guimaraes thanks Newcastle fans and staff
He expressed gratitude to the club's supporters, team-mates, and staff, including manager Eddie Howe. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who tried to keep him at St James' Park, saying: "I also want to say thank you to David (Hopkinson) and Ross (Wilson) for the huge respect to me throughout this process. They did everything they could to keep me at Newcastle, and I am very grateful for our time together."
Guimaraes added: "This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me, but I wanted to experience something new in my life. I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family." He also mentioned a positive conversation with Matthias Jaissle, expressing confidence that the club is in good hands.
Arsenal's summer business and next targets
Guimaraes is Arsenal's fourth confirmed signing of the summer, following Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, and Christos Tzolis. Manager Mikel Arteta is now expected to focus on strengthening the wide forward area and providing cover for centre-back William Saliba.
Vinicius Junior had been a top target, but the Brazilian's contract extension at Real Madrid has ruled out that move. Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola remains a known target, though Liverpool are also interested. In defence, Arsenal are reportedly preparing a second bid for Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa after a £40 million offer was rejected, with the England international valued at around £60 million.
