De Newcastle's golden era ends as Guimarães nears Arsenal move

In a bustling Newcastle street northwest of the British island, the atmosphere is electric as Bruno Guimarães stands on the brink of a move to Arsenal, the Premier League giants, after weeks of negotiation that could see the Brazilian midfielder leave the club that has become one of the world’s richest.

De 2021 saw the world’s eyes on Inglaterra, with every major headline pointing to English football.

Newcastle, a club with a storied past, endured a period of mediocrity from 2010 to the early 2020s, even suffering a relegation.

The Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF bought 80% of the institution for €350 million, a cash injection that transformed the club into one of the richest teams on the planet.

El ambitions rose dramatically, with fans dreaming of signings like Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar, yet the actual arrivals were more modest and financially prudent.

Bruno Guimarães is negotiating a transfer to Arsenal, while Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham) and Anthony Gordon (Barcelona) have already joined, marking the most prominent purchases of the investor group.

The club returned to the Champions League after a 20‑year hiatus, beating PSG 4‑1 in the group stage, drawing with Milan in Italy, later defeating Qarabag in the round of 16, and then suffering an 8‑3 loss to Barcelona.

Newcastle also captured the 2024/25 League Cup, eliminating Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea on the way to the trophy, delivering a historic triumph for the supporters.

Eddie Howe stepped down before the new season, and Matthias Jaissle has been appointed as his successor; the squad has been overhauled, with only three members of the 2023 starting eleven remaining, a situation that would be cemented if Guimarães joins Arsenal.

The future now rests on players such as Woltemade, Barnes, Wissa and Elanga, as the club shifts from being one of the world’s richest to selling off its key figures.