Arsenal set to land Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes in £75m transfer

Arsenal are close to completing one of the biggest deals of the summer transfer window after reaching an agreement with Newcastle United for Brazil midfielder and club captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on his official X account that the transfer is effectively done, using his trademark phrase “Here We Go”. He said Arsenal had concluded lengthy negotiations with Newcastle, having already agreed personal terms with Guimaraes in July last year.

The deal is worth £75m, according to Romano, and would make the 28-year-old the latest major addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the new season.

Arsenal’s discussions with Newcastle moved into a decisive phase in recent days, with contact progressing from talks through intermediaries to direct negotiations between the two clubs. The Gunners had identified strengthening midfield as a priority and were keen to recruit one of the Premier League’s leading players in that position.

Newcastle initially rejected an Arsenal offer of £70m, according to previous reports, and demanded a higher fee. Further negotiations eventually led to an agreement being reached between the clubs.

Guimaraes’ willingness to join Arsenal also helped move the transfer forward. The Brazil international had expressed a desire to wear the north London club’s shirt, creating favourable conditions for all parties to settle the remaining details.

The proposed move would represent a significant addition for Arteta as Arsenal seek to improve the quality of their squad and increase competition for places. The manager had previously hinted that the club was working actively in the transfer market, saying the intention was to strengthen the team sufficiently to remain competitive in every competition.

Guimaraes has established himself as one of the Premier League’s outstanding midfielders since joining Newcastle United. He continued to produce strong performances last season, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in all competitions.

His expected arrival would strengthen Arsenal’s ambitions of retaining the Premier League title and competing strongly in the UEFA Champions League. It would also give Arteta another high-level midfield option as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging on several fronts.

For Newcastle, the agreement would bring an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding their captain, while Arsenal’s willingness to pay £75m reflects the importance they place on adding an established Premier League performer.

The transfer remains subject to the completion of the final formalities, but the agreement between Arsenal and Newcastle marks the key breakthrough in the deal.