Arsenal agree £75m deal with Newcastle for captain Bruno Guimarães after compromise

Deal reached after compromise

Arsenal and Newcastle United have agreed a £75 million ($99.5 million) fee for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães, with the 28-year-old expected to travel from Newcastle's pre-season training camp in La Manga, southern Spain, to London for a medical in the coming days. Arsenal's opening offer of £70 million was rejected on Monday, and the two clubs eventually compromised between Arsenal's ceiling of £60 million and Newcastle's floor of £80 million. The Premier League champions' initial bid was turned down earlier this week before they returned with an improved proposal that satisfied both parties.

Guimarães had told Newcastle's hierarchy at the start of the summer that he wanted to join Arsenal if a suitable offer arrived. He flew to La Manga to meet the club's incoming manager, Matthias Jaissle, on Monday but is understood to have told Jaissle he wanted to leave and could not be persuaded otherwise. The parting is believed to have been cordial.

What Guimarães brings

The Brazilian joined Newcastle from Olympique Lyonnais in January 2022 for £40 million and became one of the club's most influential players, eventually being named captain. He has made 195 appearances in all competitions, scoring 31 goals, and captained Newcastle to League Cup success in 2025, the club's first domestic silverware in 70 years. In 153 league appearances he scored 30 goals and contributed 26 assists. Last season he recorded nine goals and eight assists across all competitions.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta identified Guimarães as his primary target to strengthen a midfield already stocked with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and captain Martin Ødegaard. Arteta made clear after Arsenal's Premier League title win, their first in 22 years, that the squad would need to be ambitious to build on a campaign that also included a Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain. Guimarães's forward passing and aggression in duels are seen as qualities that will quicken Arsenal's play against deep-lying defences and maintain intensity across multiple competitions.

Newcastle's summer exodus

The departure of Guimarães follows the exits of Anthony Gordon, sold to Barcelona for £69.3 million (approximately €80.9 million), and Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham in a deal estimated at £100 million (approximately €116.8 million). Manager Eddie Howe stepped down last week. If the Guimarães deal is completed, Newcastle will have surpassed €280 million in transfer income this summer. The club had no need to sell and would have preferred to keep a player integral to their League Cup triumph, but the Brazilian's determination to join Arsenal made retention impossible.

Financial details and next steps

Newcastle will owe Lyon approximately £7 million under a sell-on clause entitling the French club to 20% of any profit Newcastle make on the sale. Guimarães had two years remaining on his contract at St James' Park, with an option for a further year. Arsenal begin their title defence against Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on 21 August, while Newcastle open their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on 23 August. Rice is returning from a World Cup campaign in which he helped England reach the semi-final, and has been carrying a hamstring issue that rest is expected to ease. The addition of Guimarães is intended to ensure no dip in midfield quality during his recovery.