Arsenal have completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United for £75 million. The 28-year-old midfielder will wear the No.39 shirt at the Emirates Stadium, a number that has been a constant throughout his career.
Guimaraes' shirt number significance
Guimaraes has worn No.39 at previous clubs, including Lyon and Athletico Paranaense. He has spoken about the personal meaning behind the number, revealing it was his father's taxi number in Rio de Janeiro.
“The number on my shirt tells a story more beautiful than words can express. I know that people think it's a strange number for a footballer. But for me, the 39 is special. It's magical. The number 39 has given me everything in life. It brought me here to Newcastle. It fed me, clothed me, and funded the trips that allowed me to realise my dream of becoming a footballer,” Guimaraes said.
Newcastle's summer exodus
Newcastle have had a difficult summer, having already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, and losing manager Eddie Howe. Guimaraes' departure adds to their woes, but Arsenal are delighted to secure his services.
Arsenal, the defending Premier League champions, have never retained the title in the Premier League era. Guimaraes will be part of the squad aiming to change that, and he is expected to make an immediate impact in midfield.
