Bruno Guimaraes departed Newcastle United's pre-season training camp in Spain after a tearful farewell to teammates and staff, marking his transfer to Arsenal.
Newcastle United's sporting director, Ross Wilson, stated that the club had not initially planned to sell the midfielder. However, Guimaraes, described as an "emotional" captain, expressed a strong desire to join Arsenal. This move follows a pattern of significant player departures from Newcastle over the past year, including Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona respectively, and Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer.
Wilson acknowledged that Guimaraes' departure is a notable loss, given his importance to the team. He indicated that Arsenal had initially sought a lower transfer fee, while Newcastle aimed for a higher valuation for the influential player. "It's a fee that satisfies us," Wilson commented, adding that the transaction represents the highest fee for a player in Guimaraes' position at his age, considering various factors. He concluded, "Is it a good deal for Newcastle United? I believe it is, but Arsenal are getting a very special player and person. It's worked from a financial perspective for both sides."
Newcastle is actively seeking a replacement for Guimaraes. While several of their recent signings this summer have been under the age of 20, the club is now looking to recruit a more experienced midfielder. They also plan to make a couple of additional signings before the transfer window closes on September 1. Wilson cautioned against hasty decisions, emphasizing the need to avoid "any mistakes by jumping to do something that we don't really want to do to tick a box."