adminNewcastle United have officially seen one of the most influential players of the modern era leave St James’ Park, with Bruno Guimaraes completing a £75million move to Arsenal.
The Brazilian midfielder’s departure brings an end to a remarkable five-year spell on Tyneside, during which he established himself as one of Newcastle’s most important players and eventually took on the responsibility of club captain.
And as Guimaraes begins a new chapter in north London, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has delivered an emotional response to the midfielder’s exit.
Shearer took to social media following confirmation of the transfer and sent a short but powerful message directly to the former Newcastle captain.
“Thanks for everything, Skipper,” Shearer wrote on X.
The message came in response to Guimaraes’ farewell video, in which the Brazilian addressed Newcastle supporters and explained his decision to bring his time at the club to an end.
For many Newcastle fans, Guimaraes’ departure represents far more than another transfer. The 28-year-old arrived at St James’ Park when the club were in a very different position and quickly became one of the faces of the transformation that followed.
His performances, personality and connection with the supporters made him a hugely popular figure on Tyneside.
Guimaraes also played a significant role in Newcastle’s resurgence under Eddie Howe, helping the club establish themselves as a regular Premier League force and return to the Champions League.
Now, however, that era has come to an end.
Guimaraes explains Newcastle departure
In his farewell message, Guimaraes admitted that leaving Newcastle was one of the toughest decisions of his life.
“This is one of the toughest decisions of my life. When I arrived, the club was in a challenging position and I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together,” he said.
The midfielder went on to describe his deep connection with the city, supporters and everyone associated with the club.
“I fell in love with this place. I really mean that. From my first day, the supporters, my teammates, Eddie and the staff, and everyone connected with the club made me and my family feel at home.”
Guimaraes also thanked Newcastle’s ownership and senior figures for their support during his time at the club.
“I thank PIF, our chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jamie Reuben for everything they have done for me and for this football club. I also want to say thank you to David and Ross for the huge respect to me throughout this process.”
He revealed that Newcastle had made efforts to convince him to remain on Tyneside.
“They did everything they could to keep me at Newcastle, and I am very grateful for our time together.”
However, despite the club’s attempts to retain him, Guimaraes ultimately decided that the time was right for a new challenge.
“This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me, but I wanted to experience something new in my life. I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family.”
Newcastle now face another major transfer problem
While Guimaraes begins his Arsenal career, Newcastle are left with a significant hole to fill in midfield.
His departure means the club have lost another key figure during what has already become a turbulent summer transfer window.
Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have also left Newcastle, meaning three major names have now departed the squad.
The loss of Guimaraes could arguably prove the most difficult to replace.
Newcastle must now decide whether to invest heavily in an established midfielder or accelerate the development of younger options already within the squad.
With the transfer window closing on September 1, the club still have time to act, but the pressure is increasing.
The arrival of Matthias Jaissle has already ushered in a new era at St James’ Park, and the new manager now faces the difficult task of rebuilding a squad that has undergone significant change.
Guimaraes’ exit makes that rebuilding process even more important.
The Brazilian was not simply another midfielder. He was a leader, a fan favourite and a player who had become synonymous with Newcastle’s rise.
Replacing his technical quality will be difficult enough.
Replacing his influence inside the dressing room could prove even harder.
For now, though, Newcastle supporters are left to say goodbye to a player who helped transform the club.
And Shearer’s simple message “Thanks for everything, Skipper”perfectly captured the significance of Guimaraes’ departure.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
