Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has completed a £75 million ($101.2 million) move to Arsenal from Newcastle United, saying he wants to “make history” with the Premier League champions.
The 28-year-old, who spent four-and-a-half seasons at Newcastle and rose to become the club’s captain, completed the switch on Saturday. Arsenal did not disclose the length of the deal, but British media reports put it at four years with a one-year option.
“I feel good, I feel amazing. I’m glad for the opportunity,” Guimaraes told Arsenal’s media channels. “We have tough games to play this season so the squad is going to be very, very important and I’m hopeful we can achieve our dreams.”
Guimaraes said he had been drawn to the move from his first conversations with sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta.
“I just felt inside of me that I need a new challenge in my life and I think to be an Arsenal player is going to be an exciting challenge,” he said. “I think after playing two World Cups, I’m at the point of my life, I think I need a challenge like this. I want to win trophies, I want to make history and I think I’m in the right place to do it.”
The move makes Guimaraes Arsenal’s most high-profile addition of the transfer window, following the earlier arrivals of Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis.
Berta said the signing strengthens the core of Arteta’s squad. “Bruno can play as a defensive midfielder and as a box-to-box player. He combines quality with quantity, and has provided goals and assists for his team every year,” he said. “Bruno will allow Mikel to further develop our playing style and will also increase our internal competitiveness.”
Guimaraes had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal in January 2022 before opting for Newcastle from Lyon. He leaves St James’ Park with 31 goals in 195 appearances and helped end the club’s 56-year wait for a major trophy, winning the 2025 League Cup under then-manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle also reached the Champions League twice during his time there.
He becomes the third high-profile departure from Newcastle this window, following Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
“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,” Guimaraes said in a statement released by Newcastle. “I fell in love with this place. I really mean that.”
Howe stepped down as Newcastle manager last week and has been replaced by German coach Matthias Jaissle.
At Arsenal, Guimaraes will compete for a midfield place alongside Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.
Arsenal open their season against Manchester City in the Community Shield next Sunday before starting their title defence against newly promoted Coventry five days later. Newcastle begin their campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 23.
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