By Michael Odegbe
Manchester City made a significant announcement in the January transfer window by finalizing the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in a deal initially worth £20 million.
The 25-year-old England defender sealed the transfer after passing a medical on Sunday and signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, becoming the latest addition to Pep Guardiola’s defense.
City moved quickly to sign Guehi following injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, identifying the Crystal Palace captain as the ideal solution. Highly regarded across Europe, Guehi was also entering the final months of his contract with Crystal Palace, making this the perfect time for the champions to make a move.
Guehi, speaking after the deal was confirmed, could barely contain his excitement.
“I’m really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” he said. “This is like the culmination of all my hard work in my career. I’m joining the best club in England with an incredible squad.”
The former Chelsea academy graduate has been a standout figure at Palace since joining from Swansea in 2021, making 188 appearances and wearing the captain’s armband with authority. This season alone, he has made 33 appearances, helping Palace to their first-ever Europa Conference League campaign.
Ironically, Guehi knows City all too well. He captained Palace to the famous FA Cup final against Manchester City in May and also won the Community Shield earlier this season after defeating Liverpool.
His move to the Etihad had been planned for months. A £35 million transfer to Liverpool fell through in a dramatic fiasco on the final day of the September transfer window, and Guehi had already undergone a medical before the deal collapsed. Palace manager Oliver Glasner later confirmed the club would be sold in January if the valuation was met, and City wasted no time.
“I want to develop as a player and as a person,” Guehi added. “I can’t wait to meet my teammates, understand what the manager expects from me, and show the City fans what I can do.”
Guehi is City’s second major signing of the transfer window, following Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5 million. His arrival brings City’s spending to a staggering £445.9 million on 15 players over the past 12 months, underlining the club’s continued ambition.
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