Arsenal step up summer business
Arsenal are ramping up their transfer activity following the conclusion of the World Cup. For all the talk at the end of last season of Mikel Arteta being handed another £250million war chest to bolster his squad this summer, the 2025/26 Premier League champions have been relatively quiet compared to their rivals.
They kicked off the transfer window by sealing the permanent transfer of Piero Hincapie for £34m last month, before adding back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer. Sporting director Andrea Berta has also addressed the much talked about left wing position, sanctioning the £17m departure of Leandro Trossard before acquiring his replacement - £34m Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis - who is expected to formally sign this week.
However, there is a growing sense of concern among the Arsenal faithful that Berta has still fallen short of their objectives so far in the window. The north Londoners are yet to offload several players surplus to requirements, including Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus and Christian Norgaard.
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More importantly, they are yet to bring in a marquee forward, a midfielder and a defender of starting calibre. Having already missed out on wonderkid Jeremy Monga to Manchester City, Berta’s dawdling also appears to have cost them the signature of Morgan Rogers. Despite agreeing terms with the player, Arsenal refused to meet Aston Villa’s valuation of Rogers and Chelsea have since swept in and agreed a £117m move.
Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest transfer developments involving the English champions.
Newcastle deny Arsenal talks over Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle sources have denied reports claiming they have opened talks with Arsenal over Bruno Guimaraes. It was reported by The Times on Tuesday that Arsenal had officially opened talks for the Brazilian midfielder, with Newcastle said to value him at £75m.
However, football.london cites Magpies sources as saying there still remains no bid, offers or even direct contact between themselves and Arsenal over the player. Discussions have taken place behind the scenes through intermediaries, with super agent Kia Joorabchian involved in helping sort out Guimaraes’ future.
The 28-year-old is also understood to have told Newcastle he wants to leave in order to win silverware elsewhere, with N5 being the most likely destination. But Arsenal’s valuation of Guimaraes, whose contract expires in less than two years, is said to be far lower than that of Newcastle's.
Arsenal agree new Emirates sponsorship deal
Arsenal have agreed a new deal with long-term title sponsor Emirates worth a reported £70m-a-year plus bonuses. The deal, negotiated by the club’s chief commercial officer Juliet Slot, who is set to become the latest executive to leave the club later this year, represents a huge increase on the £45m-a-year deal which ran until 2028.
It extends the airline’s long association with the north London club ahead of the current agreement’s scheduled expiry in 2028. The Telegraph reports that the renewed partnership covers the naming rights to Emirates Stadium and front-of-shirt sponsors for Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams.
The stadium has borne the name of the United Arab Emirates’ airline since it was opened in 2006, with the shirt deal beginning at the same time. The improved terms are a result of Arteta’s side clinching their first Premier League title in 22 years and Arsenal Women’s Champions League success last year boosting the club’s commercial appeal.
