Newcastle say they “didn’t want to sell” Guimaraes, as Arsenal move looms

What the report says

Newcastle United have said they did not want to sell captain Bruno Guimaraes, despite reports that the Brazil midfielder is close to joining Arsenal. Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported on 8 August 2026 that British media had linked Arsenal with a £75 million deal for the 28-year-old, though neither club has confirmed any transfer.

Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson said at the club’s preseason camp in Spain that the move was not part of Newcastle’s plan and that ownership also did not want to let Guimaraes go. He added that the club had to respond to the situation because Guimaraes had made clear he wanted to leave. Wilson described the reported fee as a major one for a player of Guimaraes’s age.

Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022 and has since made 195 appearances in all competitions, scoring 31 goals. He captained Newcastle to the League Cup title in 2025, a landmark trophy for the club. The possible departure would be another change for Newcastle after other recent exits and before the team opens its Premier League season against Liverpool on 23 August. More broadly, the case highlights how top clubs sometimes balance squad planning, player ambition and large transfer offers during the summer window.