Bruno Guimaraes has left Newcastle United for Arsenal in a £75m move, ending his four-year spell at St James' Park. The transfer, first revealed by Chronicle Live, was completed after a seven-week pursuit by the Gunners.
Guimaraes thanks fans and club
Speaking after his departure, 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.”
He added: “I fell in love with this place. I really mean that. From my first day, the supporters, my teammates, Eddie and the staff, and everyone connected with the club made me and my family feel at home.”
Talks with new boss confirmed
The midfielder also confirmed he held talks with new head coach Matthias Jaissle before deciding to leave. “I had a very positive conversation with Matthias Jaissle, and I leave knowing the club is in very good hands,” he said.
Guimaraes thanked the club's ownership, saying: “I thank PIF, our chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jamie Reuben for everything they have done for me and for this football club. I also want to say thank you to David and Ross for the huge respect to me throughout this process.”
Newcastle statement
Newcastle United confirmed the transfer in a statement, saying: “United can announce that Bruno Guimarães has joined Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.”
The statement added: “The agreed fee represents one of the top ten highest transfer fees ever received for a player aged 28 or over, and a record fee for a player of his age and position combined. Bruno departs St James’ Park after making 195 appearances and scoring 31 goals for the Magpies. The club wishes Bruno and his family well.”
