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Arsenal supporters will have to wait a bit longer for the club to officially unveil Bruno Guimaraes after his £75 million switch from Newcastle United ran into a late complication. Even though the midfielder has already linked up with his new team-mates for pre-season training, administrative matters have delayed the final announcement.

Paperwork problems delay official confirmation

Arsenal fans are eagerly waiting for confirmation of Guimaraes as the club’s latest marquee signing, but a late obstacle has emerged in completing the transfer. While a £75 million fee was agreed with Newcastle United earlier this week, the formal announcement has been pushed back because of 'bureaucratic issues'.

According to The Sun, quoting reports from Diario AS, the Premier League champions reached an agreement under which the North London club will pay the full £75m over a 24-month period, with no performance-related add-ons included. The reports add that the delay is purely procedural, and Arsenal officials remain confident that the remaining issues will be sorted out quickly.

Guimaraes already settled in at London Colney

Despite there being no official signing photograph yet, the transfer is effectively done on the pitch. Guimaraes is reported to have taken part in his first pre-season training session under Mikel Arteta on Friday, joining the Gunners squad immediately after arriving in London. That indicates the club expects the administrative formalities to be resolved very soon, allowing the midfielder to continue preparing for the new campaign without any further interruption.

Guimaraes’ move to North London began when he met new Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle at the club’s pre-season camp in Spain to ask for a transfer. After receiving the Magpies’ approval, the midfielder immediately took a flight to London to undergo his medical.

Newcastle captain leaves after a historic spell

Guimaraes’ departure brings to a close a highly successful period for the midfielder on Tyneside. Since arriving from Lyon in January 2022 for £40m, he grew into an influential captain and a firm fan favourite. Across four-and-a-half years with the Magpies, he made 195 appearances, scored 31 goals and registered 32 assists.

Most importantly, the Brazilian was central to the side that ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a major trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup last year. His departure is a major blow in terms of both leadership and quality for a team that is currently going through an intense phase of transition.

Turbulent summer goes on for the Magpies

For Newcastle, the sale of Guimaraes is the latest development in a difficult transfer window. The club has already approved the high-profile exits of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while also coping with the departure of manager Eddie Howe. The Toon have also faced more frustration in recruitment this summer, with leading targets Johan Manzambi and Victor Munoz choosing to join Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool respectively.