Manchester City have completed the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi in a deal worth an initial £20 million.
The England international joins the Premier League champions on a five-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031. City were able to secure the highly rated centre-back at a reduced fee due to his contract situation, with just six months remaining on his Palace deal.
Faced with the prospect of losing their captain for free in the summer, Crystal Palace opted to cash in, agreeing to the transfer, which also includes a sell-on clause for the 25-year-old.
Speaking after completing his move, Guéhi expressed his delight at joining Pep Guardiola’s side. “I’m really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” he said. “This move feels like the reward for all the hard work I’ve put into my career. I’m joining the best club in England and an unbelievable group of players.
“I want to continue growing both as a footballer and as a person, and I know this is the right environment for that. Football has given me so much, and to carry on my development at Manchester City is a special moment for me and my family. I can’t wait to get started, meet my teammates, understand what the manager expects and show the fans what I can do.”
Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were among the clubs monitoring Guéhi, with plans to pursue a free transfer in the summer.
Guéhi becomes Guardiola’s second signing of the January window following the £64 million arrival of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. His addition also takes City’s total transfer spending over the past 12 months to £445.9 million across 15 players.
