Newcastle United have confirmed they do not want to sell captain Bruno Guimaraes, following reports in the English media that Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign the Brazil midfielder. However, sporting director Ross Wilson said the 28-year-old has actively requested to leave.
Speaking at the club's pre-season training camp in Spain, Wilson said: "We don't want to sell Bruno. That is not our plan. Nobody at the club, including the leadership, wants to sell him. He is the captain, very important to us, and the price being mentioned is a world record for a player of his age."
"But what we have to take into account, with great respect to Bruno for the way he has treated the club, is that he has told us, with great emotion, that he wants to leave and move on."
Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022. He has made 195 appearances in all competitions, scoring 31 goals, and helped the club win the League Cup in 2025, ending a long domestic trophy drought.
English media report that Arsenal have agreed a £75 million (about $101 million) deal for the Brazil midfielder, but neither club has confirmed the transfer.
Wilson stressed: "It's not possible to say this deal is part of our strategy or our plan this summer—it isn't. But we have to be flexible and react to what happens. The plan might be to sign a player, but if we can't, we move on to another target."
Guimaraes' departure would be another blow for Newcastle after Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and manager Eddie Howe have all left the club. Newcastle will begin their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 23.
