Manchester City have officially completed the signing of Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, with the announcement made on January 19, 2026.
The 25-year-old England international centre-back has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031. The transfer fee is an initial £20 million approximately $27 million), with potential add-ons and a percentage sell-on clause included in the agreement for Crystal Palace.
This represents excellent value for City, especially given that Guehi’s contract at Selhurst Park was due to expire at the end of the current season, meaning he could have left as a free agent in June.
The move comes as a timely boost for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are currently dealing with a significant defensive injury crisis. Key centre-backs Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, and John Stones are all sidelined, leaving the backline short on options.
Guehi, who served as Crystal Palace’s captain and has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most composed and reliable defenders, is expected to provide immediate competition and depth alongside Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji.
Guehi progressed through the Chelsea academy before making his breakthrough at Palace, where he developed into a standout performer known for his excellent ball-playing ability, tactical intelligence, leadership, and calmness under pressure.
The England international has been a long-term target for top clubs, having come close to joining Liverpool in the summer window before that deal collapsed at the last minute. City acted decisively in January to secure his services, outmaneuvering other interested parties.
This marks City’s second major addition of the January transfer window, following the high-profile arrival of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth earlier in the month for an initial £62.5 million. Director of football Hugo Viana praised Guehi as “one of the best defenders in English football for quite some time,” highlighting the club’s delight in bringing him on board.
Upon completing the move, Guehi expressed his excitement, describing it as the “culmination of all the hard work” he has put into his career and stating that Manchester City is “the perfect place to improve.” He is set to be officially unveiled in the coming days, having already undergone his medical and agreed personal terms. Reports suggest he will wear the No. 15 jersey at the Etihad.
The bargain nature of the deal—secured at roughly half the fee Liverpool were reportedly willing to pay last summer—has been widely hailed as a masterstroke, especially amid City’s broader recruitment drive under the new sporting structure.
Guehi is seen as a seamless fit for Guardiola’s possession-based system, and his arrival could prove pivotal as City push to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race.