Bruno Guimarães has a top hat at home. ‘Bruno’s magic hat’ is stitched across it – a keepsake from the chant Newcastle supporters invented after he turned down Arsenal to join them in 2022. Now, four and a half years on, the Brazilian has intimated his wish to move to the red half of north London.
According to L’Equipe, Guimarães has agreed a five-year contract with Arsenal. The Premier League champions have already settled personal terms with the midfielder, who turns 29 in November. The issue now is a fee. Newcastle have rejected an initial offer and do not want to sell; if they sanction a departure, they will demand a sum north of £100m.
“Bruno Guimarães agrees five-year Arsenal deal as Newcastle face losing their captain in a summer of high-profile exits.”
Guimarães has told the club he wants to leave. His departure would be the most painful yet in a summer that has already seen Sandro Tonali join Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100m, Anthony Gordon move to Barcelona for £69.3m, and Alexander Isak leave for Liverpool for a British record fee last season. Those sales have recouped £170m, reducing Newcastle’s need to sell – but they have also sparked concerns about the club’s direction.
“His departure would be very symbolic in terms of what it says about the trajectory of the project,” said season ticket holder Liam Phillips. “Newcastle have lost Isak, Gordon and Tonali in the last 12 months. To lose Bruno would be very alarming.” Phillips said he would be “absolutely devastated” if the captain leaves, particularly after Guimarães’s arrival signalled “hope and ambition” in 2022.
Guimarães lifted Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years when he led them to Carabao Cup glory two seasons ago. But a poor season, coupled with the high-profile exits, has convinced him to move on. Mikel Arteta has made no secret of his desire to add Guimarães to a midfield already containing Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi.
Newcastle’s record without their talisman is stark. According to Opta data, the club have won only two of the 16 Premier League games Guimarães has missed since he joined – a win percentage of 12.5%. With him, that figure rises to 50.7%. His former club Lyon stand to benefit financially from any move due to a sell-on clause inserted in 2022.
Newcastle, fresh from a settlement with Uefa, have needed to sell in order to reinvest. But losing the player who once declared the club could become “bigger” than Arsenal would be a hammer blow to a project already in danger of unravelling.