Arsenal have agreed a £75 million fee to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, with the 28-year-old Brazil international set to travel to North London to undergo a medical. A full agreement between the clubs has been reached after negotiations that had initially stalled over the transfer price. The deal was confirmed on 5 August 2026.
According to Football Muse, Guimaraes had informed Newcastle of his desire to join Arsenal and a full agreement between the two clubs followed. Newcastle accepted the move reluctantly, as the £75m figure came in below their original asking price.
Fee Structure and Lyon’s Cut
Chronicle Live reported exclusively that the £75m fee will be paid in full upfront, with no add-ons, milestones, or performance triggers required to reach the total. The Athletic also reported that Lyon, the club from which Newcastle signed Guimaraes in January 2022 for £38m, hold a 20 per cent sell-on clause on Newcastle’s profit. That entitles the French side to a payment of between £6 million and £7 million from the transaction.
Market analysts had valued Guimaraes at around £60m, according to Chronicle Live, meaning Newcastle consider the agreed fee strong value. At his age bracket, he would become the most expensive midfield signing in world football history.
Guimaraes’ Record at St James’ Park
The Brazilian leaves having made a significant impact on Tyneside. He helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League on two occasions across four and a half seasons, and captained the club to League Cup success in 2025, ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
His form in 2025/26 was particularly strong. Football Muse noted he was voted Newcastle’s Player of the Season and ranked among the Premier League’s top midfielders for goals, combined goals and assists, and offensive duels won.
Newcastle’s Busy Summer Exodus
Guimaraes is the latest senior figure to depart St James’ Park this summer. He follows Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and former head coach Eddie Howe out of the club. Newcastle’s incoming manager, Matthias Jaissle, is now tasked with rebuilding.
Chronicle Live reported that Guimaraes attended Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in La Manga on Monday but made clear to club staff that he intended to push through the Arsenal move. He declined to discuss extending his contract. Newcastle, mindful of the drawn-out saga that surrounded Alexander Isak’s £125m departure to Liverpool the previous summer, moved to resolve the situation quickly once Arsenal came to the table with a serious offer.
Arsenal’s Recruitment Priority
Arsenal identified Guimaraes as a key midfield target. The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported, cited on social media by ChetuniHQ, that Arsenal were nearing total agreement and that Guimaraes was awaiting clearance from Newcastle to proceed with the medical. Earlier reports had suggested the deal could come in just above £70m before the final figure settled at £75m.
Newcastle have already begun identifying replacements, looking to reinvest the fee quickly ahead of the new season.
