Bruno Guimaraes joins Arsenal for £75m

Premier League champions Arsenal have announced the signing of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for a reported fee of £75 million ($101.2 million).

Arsenal announced the midfielder’s signing via a statement on Saturday.

The Brazil international, who spent four-and-a-half seasons with Newcastle, signed a “long-term contract” with the Gunners, who ended a 22-year wait for a top-flight English league title last season.

The club stated: “We are delighted to announce that Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes has joined us from Newcastle United on a long-term contract.

“Bruno joins us having established himself as one of the most influential players in the Premier League.”

Guimaraes, 28, is Arsenal’s most high-profile signing of the transfer window so far, joining fellow new arrivals Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis at the Emirates Stadium.

Newcastle confirmed that the transfer fee for the midfielder was “one of the top 10 highest transfer fees ever received for a player aged 28 or over”.

Guimaraes was also linked with Arsenal in January 2022, when he ended up leaving Lyon for Newcastle.

Now he finally does join up with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in north London, after scoring 31 goals in 195 appearances for the Magpies.

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Under coach Eddie Howe, Guimaraes helped Newcastle end a 54-year major trophy drought when they won the 2023 League Cup.

“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 Newcastle’s statement.

Guimaraes, who played for Brazil at the recent World Cup, will compete for a place in Arsenal’s midfield with Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino.

Arsenal kick off their season against Manchester City in the Community Shield next Sunday, before starting their title defence against newly-promoted Coventry five days later.

Newcastle get their campaign started against Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 23.