Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes’ Arsenal decision made before Jaissle arrival

By Charlie Bradshaw — 6 August 2026 — 4 min read

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has stated that the decision regarding Bruno Guimaraes’ future was already finalised before his initial meeting with the departing captain. Arsenal is reportedly close to completing a £75m transfer for the midfielder following a breakthrough in negotiations.

Jaissle had a brief conversation with Guimaraes at the club’s training camp in Spain earlier this week. The 28-year-old subsequently said an emotional farewell to his teammates and club staff. Jaissle, in his first interaction with reporters after being appointed head coach, commented, “I met him quickly, but the decision was already made.” He added that Guimaraes is a “fantastic player and a great human being,” acknowledging the difficulty of the situation but highlighting it as a new challenge for the player.

Guimaraes is poised to become the fourth significant player to leave Newcastle within a year. Previously this transfer window, Anthony Gordon moved to Barcelona in a £69.3m deal, and Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur for £100m. Last summer, Alexander Isak transferred to Liverpool. Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle in 2022 from Lyon for £40m, has made 195 appearances for the club, scoring 31 goals.

Managerial Transition and Squad Changes

Jaissle, who succeeded Eddie Howe, views the club’s rebuilding phase as an opportunity to initiate a new cycle and develop a youthful, driven squad. He acknowledged the departure of several “big players” and “legends of the club” but emphasised seeing it as a chance for progress. “Not having too many excuses now, just thinking forward about what we can influence,” Jaissle remarked, adding his philosophy to “control the controllables.”

Despite the departures, Jaissle expressed confidence in the existing squad and indicated that further changes are anticipated. Newcastle had been keen to retain Guimaraes, who had two years remaining on his contract, along with a club-held option for a third year. However, Guimaraes reportedly informed Newcastle bosses earlier this summer of his desire to join Arsenal if a suitable offer materialised. He felt this presented his last significant opportunity to win titles.

The deal for Guimaraes was contingent on two conditions: the player expressing his wish to leave, which he did, and Newcastle selling on their terms, similar to the transfers of Tonali and Gordon. Newcastle insisted on their valuation for the player, aiming for a fee that would rank among the highest paid for a player aged 28 or older. The club also required the situation to be handled appropriately, with Guimaraes attending the training camp in Spain, which he did on Monday.

Newcastle officials reportedly felt Guimaraes complied impeccably with their demands, aiming to avoid a repeat of the Isak situation, where he reportedly refused to train before his move to Liverpool. Initial discussions in June mentioned a deal worth £40m-£45m, but Newcastle rejected these pushes. The club also expressed frustration, feeling that Arsenal prolonged the transfer by not contacting them for several weeks. Despite this, relations between the player and the club are said to remain positive.

New Signings and Season Outlook

Jaissle has been concentrating on coaching the players currently available to him. Newcastle is actively working on additional signings before the start of the season. The club’s transfer strategy this summer has focused on acquiring younger players from continental Europe. The oldest new arrival, Lukas Hornicek, is 24 years of age, indicating a clear shift in policy.

The club has invested approximately £146m to date on several new players. These include goalkeepers Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, and winger Bazoumana Toure. Like Jaissle, none of these five players have prior experience in the Premier League.

Jaissle, 38 years old, comes to Newcastle after successful periods managing in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli and in Austria with RB Salzburg, where he achieved trophy-laden spells. He acknowledges that managing in the Premier League is a new experience for him but embraces the challenge. “At one point it has to be your first step and I’m now at that moment after being successful in Saudi Arabia and Austria,” he stated, expressing his excitement for the opportunity. “Everyone was dreaming about being a part of the Premier League and now here we are.” Newcastle is scheduled to commence their new campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park on 23 August.

Source: bbc.co.uk