Softfootball understands that Manchester City have confirmed the signing of England international Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, following recent reports that a January deal worth an initial £20 million has been agreed, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
He posted:
OFFICIAL: Marc Guehi joins Man City from Crystal Palace on contract until June 2031. Exclusive story confirmed.
The 25-year-old defender has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031.
The move makes Guéhi City’s second major signing of the winter window, following the £64 million arrival of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.
The city’s defence has been stretched thin in recent weeks. Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones are all sidelined; Guéhi arrives with the expectation that he can steady things quickly, even if full adaptation may take a little time.
His path to the Etihad hasn’t been sudden. Guéhi came through Chelsea’s academy, but first-team chances were limited. A loan spell at Swansea City in the 2020–21 season gave him proper exposure, and he played a key role as the Welsh side reached the Championship play-off final. That experience shaped him more than many realised.
A permanent move to Crystal Palace in 2021 turned out to be the right decision. Over four-and-a-half seasons, Guéhi developed into one of the league’s most reliable centre-backs, eventually being named club captain. His calm presence and authority at the back stood out, especially during high-pressure matches.
A move to Liverpool nearly happened in the summer of 2025, but Palace blocked it after struggling to line up a replacement. With Guéhi’s contract set to expire in 2026, the club chose to sell in January instead, though the timing caused clear frustration for manager Oliver Glasner.
Guéhi will wear the number 15 shirt at City. He won’t be available for upcoming Champions League knockout games due to registration rules, but a Premier League debut against Wolves is expected, and that’s where the real assessment will begin.
