Arsenal have completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, with manager Mikel Arteta moving to bolster his midfield with the Brazil international on a long-term contract.
Guimaraes swapped Tyneside for north London after Newcastle accepted an improved bid worth close to €90m plus add-ons, ending a transfer saga that stretched across the summer window.
The 28-year-old, who captained Newcastle since arriving from Lyon in January 2022, expressed his excitement in his first interview as an Arsenal player, published on the club’s website on Saturday.
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“I’m very excited,” Guimaraes told the club website. “I’m at the point of my life where 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. I’m so excited to start.”
Guimaraes faced Arsenal repeatedly during his time at Newcastle and revealed that midfielder Declan Rice reached out to welcome him to the squad. “Rice sent me a message: ‘Come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends!’ I was happy he messaged me,” he said.
He praised his new midfield teammates, calling their unit one of the best in Europe. “Every time when I play against them it was very tough. They keep the ball, they defend like one. I think that combination is the way I like to play as well,” he said.
The Brazilian outlined what he plans to bring to Arteta’s side. “I can pass the ball, run a lot and play like a warrior, I’ll never give up. I will try to help the team, good with the ball, composed, very calm, and sometimes I can score some goals,” he said.
Guimaraes pointed to his trophy haul in Brazil, an Olympic gold medal, and silverware at Newcastle as fuel for his ambitions at Arsenal. “It’s massive what I have done so far, but I want more. I want to win for Arsenal… I think I’m in the right place, at my peak at 28 years old,” he stated.
He also set his sights on leaving a lasting legacy at the club. “I want to put my name in the club history. Someday, when I leave, I want players to come here and say I want to do exactly what Bruno did for the club,” he said, adding that he hopes to follow the path of former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva.
Guimaraes will keep his familiar No. 39 shirt, a number his father recommended early in his career in Brazil and has worn ever since. “I told you, this number is going to give you luck,” Guimaraes recalled his father saying after he pulled it from his kit bag as a young player.
He closed his message to Arsenal fans with a promise. “I will give you my best, I promise. Like I said, I’m your warrior, I’ll never give up. Hopefully we can create many, many good memories together,” he said.
Career at a glance
Athletico Paranaense (2017–2020, incl. loan): Brazilian Série A and Copa do Brasil winner before his move to Europe
Lyon (2020–2022): 3 goals in 71 appearances across competitions
Newcastle United (2022–2026): 153 Premier League appearances, captained the side, won the EFL Cup
Brazil national team: 45 caps, 3 goals
Newcastle signed Guimaraes from Lyon for around €21.4m in 2022; Arsenal have now paid roughly €90m to bring him to the Emirates.
