Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes: The Engine Behind Newcastle’s Success.

Bruno Guimaraes. Newcastle United’s captain and now a Geordie hero who lifted the Carabao Cup to end their 70-year wait. No player in the Premier League has covered more ground than Guimaraes this season - the Brazilian having joined the club in 2022, signing as one of the club's initial marquee signings under their new Saudi Arabian ownership. A reported 50-million-euro was enough to prise the midfielder away from Lyon – beating away interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, with Newcastle solidified in the bottom half of the table. However, not many would have expected the love story that would await at St. James Park.

Bruno Guimarães season by numbers:

🥇Most distance covered in PL (310km)
🥇Most duels won (in Europe)
🥇Most fouls won (in Europe)
🥇Most trophies won (x1🏆)
🥇Most Liverpool players owned (x3) pic.twitter.com/jzdoqNoK5X

— FtblJoe (@FtblJoe) March 18, 2025

Playstyle

Since stepping foot in the Premier League, Bruno Guimaraes has presented a style in the midfield - dissimilar from the rest. Tenacity, controlled aggressive, mixed with Brazilian flair and skill – the 27-year-old has rapidly become one of the top midfielders in the English top-flight. Guimaraes is the type of encapsulating player that fans fall straight in love with – flying into big tackles, getting Geordies off their seats, and leading with passion.

On the defensive side of the game, the Newcastle skipper sits above 80% of midfielders for tackles won (34), duels won (189), interceptions (25), and recoveries (136). Compared to Europe, he has won the most duels won, while also giving his defence a rest-bite – winning the most fouls. That being said, Guimaraes also can switch abilities in a split second to become an imaginative creator in the middle. The Brazilian always seems to pick up key positions around the edge of the box – lashing a shot towards goal or unlocking the opposition defence with a line-breaking pass.

Guimaraes – Attacking Midfielder?

During his days at Lyon, the 27-year-old scored just three goals and provided six assists over three seasons in France. However, since moving to England and the Premier League, Guimaraes has levelled up tremendously. Joining in January 2022, it did not take long for the Brazilian to out-score his days in Ligue 1, netting five times and assisting one in his first 17 games in the Premier League. Tyneside seemed to have their newest hero, and Guimaraes would only get better. Returning four goals and five assists in his second and first full season at the club. But 2023/24 would be the year that Newcastle’s captain would truly announce himself in the Premier League as a top midfielder.

Most accurate through balls in Europe's top five leagues this season:

◎ 12 - Bruno Guimarães
◎ 12 - Michael Olise
◎ 11 - Rayan Cherki
◎ 11 - Florian Wirtz
◎ 11 - Martin Ødegaard pic.twitter.com/jG08T8lwmU

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 21, 2025

Bruno would record an impressive personal best of seven goals and 10 assists in 37 Premier League appearances – Guimaraes would also make six appearances in the Champions League after Eddie Howe’s side qualified for the competition. A big season for the Brazilian would inevitably bring big interest in the summer - Liverpool and Barcelona were two teams that were reportedly interested in acquiring his services. However, the midfielders form being rewarded with a new deal at the club until 2028. In the present season, after 28 games in the English top-flight, Guimaraes has scored three goals and provided eight assists for 6th-placed Newcastle.

Tireless Work-Ethic

While he may well provide goals, assists, and crunching tackles – above all, Guimaraes is the engine and the ever-ticking cog in the Newcastle machine that regulates their midfield. No player in the Premier League this season has covered more distance than the Brazilian, with 310.9km covered. There is not a blade of turf at St. James Park that Guimaraes has not covered – the relentless midfielder having also led the Premier League last season in distance covered, clocking up 423.1km. The Brazilian has now established himself within the Premier League, and when it comes to all-around midfielders – at his very best, they are not very many better than Guimaraes.

1 - Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães has covered the most distance in the Premier League this season with 310.9km. Engine. pic.twitter.com/EOSM1JLya1

— OptaPlay (@OptaPlay) March 18, 2025

Securing Silverware

For a large team like Newcastle United, you are not necessarily measured by league finish, but for what you achieve, European qualification, etc, or what you win. For Geordie fans, it has been a 70-year period without a trophy. With the legends of Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan, and Les Ferdinand in tomorrow, a new chapter needed to be written in Newcastle. Saudi Arabian ownership gave hope, but it was time for players such as Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes to write their names in the Tyneside history books. Wembley was a familiar setting for Howe’s team, having lost in the 2023 Carabao Cup Final against Manchester United.

This year would be different for the Toon – dominating a league-leading Liverpool side. 2-1 would be the scoreline, but that would not tell half of the story – Newcastle having 17 shots, and having an additional goal disallowed due to offside. In the midfield of the pitch, Guimaraes was a dominant kingpin as ever, creating the most chances in the match (2), making nine recoveries, winning 5/5 of his tackles, one clearance, and one interception. The Carabao Cup victory could be the first win of many at Newcastle – an ambitious owner backing a sleeping powerhouse, headed by a young and exciting English manager in Eddie Howe.

Questions Over Guimaraes' Future

For their skipper, league position is enormous, the 27-year-old reportedly having a release clause in his contract if the Magpies do not qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season. To add to that, there is no doubt that several teams would be interested in signing the Brazilian - adding a hybrid midfielder that can play both roles and weakening a potential threat in Newcastle. However, that being said, as emotion spilled at Wembley and during parade celebrations – you cannot question Guimaraes’ love for the club, and the midfielder may have his heart set on winning more silverware and becoming a Magpies club legend.