Liam Duckstein
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Arsenal have completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, according to ESPN Brasil, with the total package worth up to £80 million. The deal reportedly comprises a guaranteed £70m fee plus £10m in add-ons, and the Brazilian midfielder is expected to put pen to paper at Arsenal this weekend.
The past 12 months have been damaging for Newcastle United. A difficult transfer window last summer saw the club spend significant portions of the Alexander Isak sale on fringe options such as Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade. The team finished 12th in the Premier League, and the head coach has since departed, with Matthias Jaissle set to take charge.
The summer exodus has accelerated. Anthony Gordon has moved to Barcelona, Sandro Tonali has joined Tottenham, and Manchester United are pursuing left-back Lewis Hall. Guimaraes, 28 and the club’s captain, is now set to follow them out of St. James’ Park.
The Gunners and Guimaraes had already reached full agreement on personal terms. The player has been eager to make the move while performing at his peak, and club-to-club negotiations were progressing in the background despite public denials from those close to the club.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano appeared to confirm the deal’s direction early on Saturday morning while addressing Newcastle’s stance on Lewis Hall. Romano stated:
“My understanding is that Newcastle will make their life (Man Utd) complicated. Newcastle don’t want to sell Lewis Hall. Newcastle already made big money this summer from Tonali, Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes… He (Guimaraes) is expected to join Arsenal this summer. We have to wait for the club-to-club agreement but the deal is moving in the right direction. Bruno wants to go to Arsenal.”
The Evening Standard had reported a deal worth between £75m and £80m was close to being finalised. ESPN Brasil then confirmed a club-to-club agreement was struck on Friday night, making the transfer official.
Not everyone is aligned on the story. Lee Ryder of The Chronicle pushed back on Saturday afternoon, writing on X:
“New claims of an £80.4m agreement on Bruno Guimaraes and #arsenal. Told this isn’t agreed and focus is on getting Matthias Jaissle unveiled. There is no change on Bruno with no official approach from the Gunners. One new head coach in place, he will talk to Bruno.”
The conflicting signals reflect how quickly the situation is moving. Romano’s comments and the ESPN Brasil report carry the weight of two credible sources pointing in the same direction, while the local Newcastle beat remains sceptical. What is clear is that Guimaraes himself wants the switch, and the financial structure of the deal has now been mapped out publicly.
Read also: Real Madrid Give Vinicius Junior a Sell-or-Sign Ultimatum After Arsenal Interest
Follow TipsGG for full coverage as this transfer reaches its conclusion.