Arsenal are intensifying their pursuit of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that the Brazil international has informed Newcastle of his desire to leave St James’ Park and join the Premier League champions this summer.
According to the report, Arsenal are prepared to pay up to £60 million for the 28-year-old midfielder, having previously seen a verbal offer worth below that figure rejected in June.
Despite the growing interest, Newcastle’s stance has not changed. The club continues to insist Guimaraes is not for sale, and no formal club-to-club negotiations have taken place.
Arsenal’s long-term interest
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s recruitment team have long admired Guimaraes.
Having established himself as one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders since arriving from Lyon in January 2022, the Brazilian is viewed as an ideal addition capable of operating alongside, or rotating with, Declan Rice.
Guimaraes still has two years remaining on the contract he signed in October 2023. That agreement included a temporary £100 million release clause, although it expired in June 2024 without being activated.
His stock has only continued to rise following another impressive campaign, which included helping Newcastle lift the 2025 Carabao Cup before starring for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, where he started every match and registered four assists prior to their last-16 elimination against Norway.
Since joining Newcastle, Guimaraes has made 153 Premier League appearances, scoring 30 goals and providing 26 assists, demonstrating his impact at both ends of the pitch.
Arsenal determined to complete deal
In his analysis for The Athletic, Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas believes the club’s determination reflects Arteta’s long-standing admiration for the midfielder.
Guimaraes would offer Arsenal a proven Premier League performer capable of easing the workload placed on Declan Rice across a demanding domestic and European schedule.
While Guimaraes, at 28, sits outside Arsenal’s recent preference for younger signings, the potential departures of experienced figures such as Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Christian Norgaard could encourage the club to inject additional leadership into the squad.
Newcastle face a defining summer
Newcastle, however, remain resolute.
Eddie Howe is determined not to lose another cornerstone of his side, having already sanctioned the departures of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3 million and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100 million.
Writing for The Athletic, Newcastle correspondent Chris Waugh described the prospect of Guimaraes leaving as potentially “existential” for the club.
Removing Newcastle’s captain and creative heartbeat after the exits of Gordon, Alexander Isak and Tonali would severely damage both the team’s competitiveness and the wider perception of the club’s long-term project.
Guimaraes’ importance extends beyond statistics. Following Newcastle’s Carabao Cup triumph last season, the Brazilian spoke emotionally about his bond with supporters, describing the club as his “second home” and expressing his hope that fans would one day sing his name alongside club legends.
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Although Newcastle continue to monitor midfield alternatives, including Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Auxerre youngster Kevin Danois, any recruitment is viewed as contingency planning rather than preparation for Guimaraes’ departure.
For now, Arsenal’s interest is genuine and the player’s preference has reportedly become clear. Whether that is enough to soften Newcastle’s unwavering stance remains the defining question as one of the summer’s biggest transfer stories gathers momentum.