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Manchester City have finalized the signing of England international defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in a deal reportedly worth an initial £20 million (€23m).
The 25-year-old arrives at the Etihad Stadium on a five-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at City until 2031. A percentage sell-on clause was also included in the deal. City were able to secure Guehi at a relatively low cost thanks to his contract situation, with only six months remaining on his deal at Selhurst Park. Faced with the risk of losing their captain for free, Crystal Palace opted to cash in on the talented defender.
On joining Manchester City, Guehi said:
“I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player. 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. I want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that’s going to happen.”
“Football has given me so much for so long, and to continue my development at Manchester City is a really special moment for me and my family. I can’t wait to get started, meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the manager expects of me, and show the City fans what I can do.”
Guehi had attracted interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich, all of whom were reportedly considering signing him on a free transfer this summer.
The defender becomes Pep Guardiola’s second January signing, following the £64 million acquisition of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Guehi’s arrival also pushes Manchester City’s transfer spending over the past 12 months to £445.9 million for 15 new players.
