Marc Guehi Archives

Man City sign Palace’s Marc Guehi on five-year deal

Manchester City signed Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on a five-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of £20 million ($27 million) on Monday.

City stepped up their pursuit of the England international after suffering an injury crisis at centre-half.

Guehi, who came close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day in September, is City’s second signing of the January transfer window after their capture of Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for about £65 million.

“I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” Guehi said.

“This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career. I am now at the best club in England and part of an unbelievable squad of players.

“It feels good to be able to say that. I want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that’s going to happen.”

City boss Pep Guardiola praised his club for sealing the deal for the highly sought after defender.

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“A top central defender, playing for the national team. Personally, thanks to the club to bring him here because he’s come at the perfect age, he can play right and left,” he said.

“I know how much he wanted to choose us. With the problems that we have in the back in the next few months it’s really, really important he’s here.

“I’m pretty sure if he had a long contract at Crystal Palace it would have been impossible, but the fact that it’s six months (left), end of contract, the situation was easier in those terms.”

The Chelsea academy graduate played 188 times for Palace after moving to Selhurst Park from the Blues in 2021.

He captained Palace to FA Cup glory against City in May — the first major trophy in the south London club’s history — and has won 26 England caps.

Other teams reportedly interested in the defender, including Liverpool once again and Bayern Munich, were understood to be targeting a move at the end of the season, when Guehi would have been a free agent.

Guardiola’s men, dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool last year, are second in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

Central defenders John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol all missed from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The club are also still challenging for silverware in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Guardiola has overseen an expensive rebuild of his squad over the past year, with a clutch of long-serving players exiting the club, including Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson.

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Man City in ‘final stages’ of Marc Guehi deal

Manchester City are in the “final stages” of completing a deal for England defender Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said on Friday.

City have stepped up their pursuit of Guehi in a deal reportedly worth £20 million ($27 million) after suffering an acute injury crisis at centre-half.

Guehi, who came close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day in September, would become City’s second signing of the January transfer window after their capture of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth last week for about £65 million.

The 25-year-old captained Palace to FA Cup success in May against City — the first major trophy in the south London club’s history — and has won 26 England caps.

Other clubs reportedly interested in the defender, including Liverpool once again and Bayern Munich, were understood to be targeting a move at the end of the season, when Guehi was due to be a free agent.

“Latest understanding, the deal with Marc is in the final stages,” Glasner said on the eve of Palace’s Premier League match at Sunderland.

“We can’t confirm, but it is not done. The result is Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us.”

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The Palace boss added: “When the players want to move on, a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.

“Everyone wanted Marc to stay forever. I talked to him, of course, it stays between us. Marc showed it in the summer transfer window, showed it the whole autumn that he was 100 percent committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.

“I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He is still at the beginning of his great career. He is a fantastic guy.”

City manager Pep Guardiola stressed he had “nothing to say” about the potential transfer at his own press conference ahead of his side’s match at Manchester United.

The club are currently without senior centre-backs John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol due to injury, while Nathan Ake has struggled to play more than once a week due to fitness issues.

Guardiola, whose team are second in the Premier League, six points behind Arsenal, said the club were “in a difficult situation for not one game but a long, long period”, adding: “Ruben will be back soon. Josko, no. John, hopefully we’ll see.”

City are also still challenging for silverware in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Glasner also said Friday he would leave Palace when his own contract expired at the end of the season.

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Crystal Palace transfer targets Eze and Guehi to start in European tie

Oliver Glasner has insisted both Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi will start in Crystal Palace Conference League play-off first leg at home to Fredrikstad on Thursday.

The pair have been linked with moves to two of Palace’s Premier League rivals — Eze to Tottenham and Guehi to Liverpool — and their respective futures could still be up for debate when Palace welcome Norwegian side Fredrikstad to Selhurst Park.

Palace manager Glasner was adamant he had every right to expect complete commitment from players under contract.

“It’s always the right of a club and the duty of a player to give 100 percent as long as he is under contract,” Glasner told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“Before Chelsea, I think many of you were surprised that Marc and Ebs started and played almost the whole game.

“Most of you will be surprised that they will start again tomorrow because of all the rumours. But again, they are committed.”

Glasner, who has guided Palace to FA Cup and Community Shield glory, added: “They are committed to the team, they have a contract here, they played a crucial part that we could be so successful, and they will play a crucial part as long as they are here.

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“Because they are good, they are committed to the team, and when one of the players leave, which I don’t know at the moment, then they want to leave as players who always gave 100 percent for Crystal Palace.

“This is what they did since they signed, and this is what we expect from them until the end of their contract, whenever this is.”

Palace captain Guehi is under contract until next year, while Eze’s deal expires in 2027.

“This noise, these rumours, it’s not just for three days, it’s been written for weeks,” said Glasner.

“They played the Community Shield and we won, and they played at Chelsea, and we drew, and they will play against Fredrikstad, and then let’s see.”

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