LONDON, United Kingdom — In a strategic move to address a critical defensive shortage, Manchester City Football Club has finalized the acquisition of English international Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The transfer, confirmed on Monday, involves a reported fee of £20 million (approximately $27 million) and commits the 26-cap England defender to a five-and-a-half-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
The signing arrives as a direct response to an ongoing injury crisis within City’s defensive lineup, which saw key center-backs John Stones, Rúben Dias, and Joško Gvardiol all absent during a recent 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. This marks the club’s second major signing of the January transfer window, following the £65 million procurement of Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.
Guehi, a product of Chelsea’s academy who captained Palace to their historic FA Cup victory against City last May, expressed profound enthusiasm regarding the transfer. ‘I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,’ he stated. ‘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.’
Manager Pep Guardiola lauded the club’s swift action in securing the highly sought-after defender, who was also a target for Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Guardiola emphasized the perfect timing of the acquisition, noting Guehi’s versatility and impending free-agent status at the season’s end. ‘A top central defender, playing for the national team… with the problems that we have in the back in the next few months it’s really, really important he’s here,’ Guardiola remarked.
The transfer effectively preempts a potential summer bidding war, as other suitors were reportedly planning approaches for Guehi upon the expiration of his Crystal Palace contract. This acquisition forms part of a broader, expensive squad rebuild overseen by Guardiola, following the departures of long-serving players like Kevin De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan. Currently positioned second in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, City remains active in pursuit of silverware across the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup.