Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson has admitted the club were not comfortable with Bruno Guimaraes’ move to Arsenal during a summer transfer window that forced the Magpies to rethink their plans.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Wilson said Newcastle had been prepared to sanction Anthony Gordon’s departure to Barcelona, but viewed Guimaraes’ exit differently.
“Bruno Guimaraes was not a transfer we were really comfortable with,” Wilson said, reflecting on the club’s major departures.
The Brazil international left St James’ Park for Arsenal on 8 August after four-and-a-half years on Tyneside. Newcastle confirmed the deal for an undisclosed fee, describing it as one of the 10 highest transfer fees ever received for a player aged 28 or over and a record fee when the player’s age and position were taken into account.
Guimaraes made 195 appearances for Newcastle and scored 31 goals after joining from Lyon in January 2022. His departure also brought an end to a spell in which he became a central figure in the club’s revival and a popular figure among supporters.
The player said his decision to leave had been “one of the toughest decisions of my life”, while thanking Newcastle’s sporting leadership for doing everything possible to keep him. He added that he wanted to experience “something new” and felt ready for a fresh challenge.
Arsenal see Bruno Guimaraes as a key addition
For Arsenal, the signing represented a chance to add an experienced Brazil international to Mikel Arteta’s midfield as the Premier League champions sought to strengthen their squad for another demanding campaign.
Guimaraes had established himself as one of Newcastle’s most influential players and arrives in north London with a reputation for energy, technical quality and leadership. His arrival followed Arsenal’s title-winning season, although their defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the Champions League final underlined the demands still facing Arteta’s side.
Newcastle have responded to the loss of several senior players by reshaping the squad under new head coach Matthias Jaissle. Wilson’s comments underline, however, that the sale of Guimaraes was viewed inside the club as a necessary adjustment rather than a preferred outcome.
