Manchester City have completed the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi for £20m.
The England defender, who has been linked with some of Europe’s top clubs, almost joined Liverpool last summer, and was out of contract at the end of this season.
Guehi had a medical on Sunday after agreeing personal terms with City and has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract.
The Chelsea academy product has played 188 times for Palace since joining from Swansea in 2021, with 33 of his appearances coming this season as they embarked on their first Conference League campaign.
His arrival follows City’s signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5m on 9 January.
Guehi said he is “really happy and incredibly proud” to become a City player.
“This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career,” he added.
“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.”
Why have Man City signed Guehi?
Guehi made 20 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace this season
City first started talks with Guehi, 25, earlier this month following injuries to defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias.
For Saturday’s defeat at neighbours Manchester United, City fielded a back four containing three players aged 21 or under – Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne – alongside 30-year-old Nathan Ake. Alleyne was replaced at half-time by fellow 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly.
Defending was their big weakness against United, who won the game 2-0, and Guehi’s arrival will add some much-needed experience and quality to City’s backline.
On statistics compiled since the start of last season, Guehi ranks inside the top 10 among Premier League centre-backs for clean sheets, duels won, aerial duels won and line-breaking passes. This season he is in the top 10 for interceptions, recoveries and duel success.
He will also provide strong leadership, having captained Palace to victory over City in last May’s FA Cup final, as well as playing a major part in England’s run to the final of the 2024 European Championship.
How will he fit into the team?
Guehi’s ability on the ball is something City will benefit from – particularly given how deep teams tend to defend against them.
When City lost at United on Saturday, their central defenders were given the most time and space on the ball, but with John Stones, Gvardiol and Dias out, they lacked the quality to take advantage of this.
Proficient at passing and dribbling with both feet while being a strong carrier of the ball, Guehi is able to get his teams up the pitch when not immediately pressed.
City lacked players who were able to switch play or hit the ball long when United committed extra defenders to one side. This is a strength of Guehi’s and with both feet. Across the entirety of last season, Guehi played an average of 7.3 long passes per 90 minutes at a 45.7% pass accuracy.
When City have had possession this season, they have tended to keep both central defenders back while their full-backs push on. At times, midfielder Bernardo Silva has split the centre-backs to form a temporary back three.
Guehi made 61 tackles for Palace last season, often winning the ball back on the left flank, as well as higher up the pitch
