Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson confirmed the club had not planned to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but the captain’s emotional decision to join Arsenal led to his departure.

Guimaraes bid a tearful farewell to teammates and staff before leaving the pre‑season training camp in Spain, marking the fourth key exit in less than a year as Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon moved to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, while Alexander Isak went to Liverpool last summer. The club’s chief executive David Hopkinson said Arsenal had initially sought a lower fee, while Newcastle wanted a higher sum for a 29‑year‑old talisman. “You’re dealing with very sophisticated actors on each side,” Hopkinson added, noting the deal satisfied both parties financially.

Newcastle are now active in the market, targeting an experienced midfielder and additional signings before the window closes on 1 September. Wilson cautioned against “jumping to do something that we don’t really want to do to tick a box.”