Free agent pens emotional farewell message amid Newcastle United & Aston Villa transfer links

Newcastle United and Aston Villa have been linked with the Portuguese international who becomes a free agent this summer.

Raphael Guerreiro has posted an emotional farewell message to Borussia Dortmund ahead of leaving the German club on a free transfer.

The left-back made 224 appearances and scored an impressive 40 goals after joining from Ligue 1 side Lorient in 2019. His last game ended in disappointment after Dortmund’s 2-2 home draw with Mainz handed the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich.

placeholder image
Getty Images

Dortmund had offered a new two-year contract but the 29-year-old has decided to seek a fresh challenge. Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are among the European clubs linked with Guerreiro in recent months.

“After 7 amazing years, It’s time for me to say goodbye to you all with a lot of sadness,” Guerreiro wrote on Instagram.

“The memories I made here taught me a lot about myself on the pitch but also helped me a lot knowing what I really love in football.

“I have always been myself while learning and improving here and I will never forget the love I got from the fans and my teammates during these 7 years. I had the chance to play with some fantastic players!

“These farewells are obviously the hardest of my career according to the thrill I took while playing in this wonderful stadium.

“Trust me, I will never forget the feeling to play for this club and BVB Colors! Thank you ! 🖤💛”

Get the latest Newcastle United headlines with our free football newsletter! Follow the action from St James’ Park and beyond as we bring the sport news to you. Visit our website here to sign up.

Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice