Arsenal's official website introduces Guimaraes: Chose No 39 for father, enjoys fishing in free time

On August 8, Bruno Guimaraes transferred from Newcastle United to Arsenal, becoming the team's latest summer signing. The Arsenal official website also published a special article introducing "13 things" about the team's new recruit.

Jersey Collector

Everyone loves classic football jerseys, but Bruno Guimaraes' collection is on another level.

The midfielder has showcased his treasured collection on social media, which includes jerseys from the Premier League, major European leagues, and around the world.

Now, Arsenal's new jersey will also join his valuable collection.

Ending Years of Waiting

Bruno joined Newcastle United in January 2022, and just 18 months later, he helped transform the team from a relegation candidate into a Champions League contender.

The Brazilian midfielder became a key figure in Newcastle's midfield. In March 2023, he led Newcastle to Wembley Stadium to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. Ultimately, Newcastle won the championship, and Bruno became the first Newcastle captain to lift a major trophy since Bobby Moncur, ending the team's 52-year wait for a domestic trophy.

Arsenal's Newest Brazilian Player

Brazilian stars are no strangers to London N5 (where Arsenal is located). In the club's history, 15 Brazilian players have played at Highbury and the Emirates Stadium, five of whom joined during manager Mikel Arteta's tenure.

In August 2026, Bruno became the 16th Brazilian player in Arsenal's history, and the first Brazilian central midfielder to play for the Gunners since Denilson in 2011.

"Spanish" Bruno?

Although Bruno is joining Arsenal's long list of Brazilian players, he also had the opportunity to become part of the Spanish national team.

Despite being born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bruno was eligible for Spanish citizenship because his grandfather emigrated from Spain to Brazil.

The Magical Number 39

Numbers hold a special meaning for Bruno Guimaraes, and among them, his number 39 jersey is the most important.

This number comes from his father – 39 was the number on his father's taxi when he worked as a taxi driver in Brazil.

Later, when Bruno was on loan at Athletico Paranaense, he also received the number 39 jersey. For him, it was not a simple coincidence, but a special destiny.

In February 2023, Bruno wrote in The Players' Tribune: "Number 39 is special to me – no, it's not just special, it's magical. Number 39 gave me everything in my life."

Olympic Gold Medal Glory

Bruno helped the Brazilian team qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (the event was postponed for a year due to the pandemic).

A year later, he was selected for the Brazilian Olympic team and helped the team reach the final of the Tokyo Olympics, where they faced Spain.

In the final, Bruno played the full 90 minutes, and Brazil eventually defeated Spain 2-1 in extra time to win the gold medal.

"Bruno Swimaraes"

Although Bruno ultimately won an Olympic gold medal in 2021, if his life had taken a different path, he might have stood on the podium in another sport.

Because his mother had wanted her son to be a swimmer, not a football player.

As a child, Bruno contracted pneumonia, and doctors advised him to use exercise to aid his recovery.

His mother wanted him to practice swimming, but soon realized that football was Bruno's true passion.

Regaining Confidence, Shining Brightly

Today, Bruno is one of the world's top midfielders, but in the early stages of his career, the Brazilian player struggled to find his form.

It wasn't until his youth coach, Mário Jorge, gave him support and encouragement that he helped the young Bruno build confidence and gradually show his talent.

Bruno recalled in The Players' Tribune: "Before every match, the night before, I would be very nervous, even with stomach pains and vomiting. Sometimes I would have headaches and fever, and I couldn't sleep at all. During the game, I couldn't play freely, always worrying about making mistakes."

"My coach, Mário Jorge, told me: 'Listen, don't worry about these things. Enjoy the game and see what happens.' From then on, I overcame my mental block and grew very quickly."

Sacrificing for a Dream

Bruno was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, and he always seized every opportunity to become a professional player.

He tried out for Brazilian giants Botafogo and Fluminense, but ultimately did not get a contract.

He then chose to join Audax Brasileiro, which meant he had to leave his hometown and move to an unfamiliar city to pursue his football dream.

Despite missing his family dearly, Bruno stuck to his path.

After joining the first team at 19, he was discovered by Brazilian Série A team Athletico Paranaense, marking a significant turning point in his career.

Hometown Glory

Wearing his beloved number 39 jersey, Bruno first joined Athletico Paranaense on loan, and then the team completed a permanent transfer from Audax Brasileiro.

The two seasons he spent there became one of the most successful periods in the club's history.

As a key midfielder, Bruno helped Athletico Paranaense win the Copa Sudamericana for the first time. In addition, he scored the winning goal in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final against Internacional, and the team then won 2-1 in the second leg, lifting the Copa do Brasil for the first time in history.

Before moving to Lyon, Bruno won a total of four trophies.

Champions League Journey

In January 2020, Bruno crossed the Atlantic to join French Ligue 1 team Lyon, officially starting his European football career.

He made only three appearances in Ligue 1 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and the league was suspended.

However, after the restart, Bruno helped Lyon create a surprise in European competitions.

He first helped the team eliminate Juventus on away goals, and then traveled to Portugal to participate in the Champions League knockout stage.

In the match against Manchester City, Bruno started and helped Lyon pull off a shocking 3-1 victory, reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the second time in the club's history and the first time since 2010.

Previously Faced Arsenal

Since joining Newcastle in January 2022, Bruno has become familiar with playing against Arsenal. Now, he becomes the 38th player to have played against the Gunners for another Premier League team before joining Arsenal.

Since Arteta took charge of Arsenal, he has signed 19 Premier League players who had previously faced Arsenal while representing other teams.

Fishing Enthusiast

Outside of football, Bruno also has a passion for fishing.

Earlier this year, he was photographed spearfishing with world champion Raphael Ambrosio.

In the summer of 2026, Bruno was also seen participating in fishing activities.

When asked about his interests outside of football, he said: "Playing with my kids. That's my favorite thing. I love taking them to farms, zoos, and aquariums. Of course, my favorite hobby is definitely fishing. I really love fishing."

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