Arsenal have confirmed the signing of the Brazil midfielder from Newcastle for a fee of £75m, with Guimaraes putting pen to paper on a four-year deal that includes the option of a further year. The 28-year-old, who was Newcastle's captain, called the decision to leave St James' Park one of the toughest of his life.
"This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me," he said. "But I wanted to experience something new in my life.
"I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family."
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta welcomed the arrival, saying: "We are delighted to welcome Bruno Guimaraes to our club. Bruno is a player with a great mentality and great quality, who will bring strong leadership to our squad. With Bruno joining us, we are further strengthening the heart of our team."
Guimaraes departs Tyneside having joined a struggling Newcastle side from Lyon in January 2022 and gone on to play a central role in the club's revival under former manager Eddie Howe, helping them qualify for the Champions League in both 2023 and 2025 and becoming the first captain in seven decades to lift a major domestic trophy for the club, after Newcastle United beat Liverpool in the 2025 Carabao Cup final. Newcastle wished him and his family well in a statement following the move, which comes after the Magpies slipped to 12th in the Premier League last season.
The move ends years of familiarity between Guimaraes and his new midfield teammates, having faced Arsenal repeatedly since arriving in the Premier League. Declan Rice, with whom he shared some combative battles, was among those to reach out.
"Rice sent me a message: 'Come here and please no more fights, now we're friends!' I was happy he messaged me," Guimaraes said. He was equally effusive about the wider midfield he is joining.
"In my point of view, this is one of the best in Europe. Everyone is an amazing player. Every time when I play against them it was very tough. They keep the ball, they defend like one. I think that combination is the way I like to play as well, and of course, joining the winners of the league is always a big opportunity."
Asked what he can offer the team, Guimaraes said: "I can pass the ball, run a lot and play like a warrior, I'll never give up. I will try to help the team, good with the ball, composed, very calm, and sometimes I can score some goals and hope to make everyone very, very happy here."
Having already won trophies in Brazil, an Olympic gold medal and silverware with Newcastle, he made clear his ambitions go further still.
"It's massive what I have done so far, but I want more. I want to win for Arsenal. I want to win more trophies in my career, and I think I'm in the right place, at my peak at 28 years old. I want to put my name in the club history. Someday, when I leave, I want players to come here and say I want to do exactly what Bruno did for the club. I think it's the best thing that a player can do for the club: create history and inspire the young."
Guimaraes becomes the 17th Brazilian to represent Arsenal, and has one particular predecessor in mind as he settles into life in north London.
"Of course, Gilberto Silva. I love him as a player," he said. "I had the opportunity before to talk to Gilberto Silva. I hope I can follow his history here and make myself one of the very good players at Arsenal in history."
He will continue wearing the number 39 shirt, a number with deep personal significance.
"My father was a taxi driver in Brazil for more than 20 years. The taxi, of course, gave me everything for my family, the place we live, the food, my clothes, everything. So when I got the chance to sign to a top club in Brazil, I asked my father which number I should take and he said 39."
The midfielder closed with a message to supporters on both sides of his move: "Thank you for everything you have done. All the messages you gave me, I'm so excited to join you. I will give you my best, I promise. Like I said, I'm your warrior, I'll never give up. Hopefully we can create many, many good memories together."