Guimaraes agrees personal terms with Arsenal but Newcastle dig in: “Not for sale”

Arsenal have moved a significant step closer to landing Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães after the Brazilian midfielder agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions, according to multiple reports. However, Newcastle remain adamant that their prized asset is not for sale.

The 28-year-old Brazil international is understood to have committed to a five-year contract at the Emirates, with a deal running until 2031. But while the player side appears settled, the two clubs remain locked in a bitter standoff over the transfer fee.

Arsenal had an initial verbal offer of around £55 million rejected earlier in the window and are now preparing an improved proposal, with reports suggesting a package worth up to £60 million could be tabled. Yet sources on Tyneside insist that figure falls laughably short of their valuation, with some speculation suggesting a fee closer to £90 million may be required to even begin serious negotiations.

Guimarães has two years remaining on his current contract, having signed a five-year extension in October 2023. That deal briefly contained a temporary £100 million release clause, but it expired in June 2024 without being triggered. Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon to Barcelona (£69.3m) and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham (£100m) this summer, and there is growing resistance on Tyneside to allowing a third key figure to walk through the exit door.

Guimarães, who joined Newcastle from Lyon for £35m in January 2022, has made 195 appearances for the Magpies across four-and-a-half seasons. He captained the club to Carabao Cup glory in 2025, ending a 70-year wait for a major trophy, and was named Newcastle’s Player of the Season that same year.

The midfielder’s desire to leave St James’ Park was formally communicated to Newcastle following Brazil’s heartbreaking World Cup last-16 exit to Norway, a match in which Guimarães missed a crucial penalty. Despite providing four assists in five tournament appearances, the disappointment of international elimination appears to have sharpened his focus on a move to the champions.

Mikel Arteta views Guimarães as a Premier League-ready addition who can partner or rotate with Declan Rice, with the England international showing signs of fatigue after a gruelling campaign. Arsenal have also been linked with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi as alternative options, but Guimarães remains the primary target.

Should a deal eventually be struck, Lyon stand to benefit from a sell-on clause reportedly worth around €6 million (£5.1m).

For now, however, Newcastle’s position is unequivocal. As one insider put it: there is “no decision to make” on Guimarães’ future. Whether Arsenal’s forthcoming formal bid forces a change of heart remains the defining question of this summer’s most compelling transfer saga.