Post by : Meena Ariff

Manchester City have completed the signing of England centre back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on a five-and-a-half-year contract. The move comes as City aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race.

Financial details were not officially released, but reports suggest the deal is worth around £20 million (RM108.8 million). Guehi, 25, had just six months remaining on his contract with Crystal Palace.

Guehi’s arrival is a major boost for City, who have been struggling with injuries to key defenders Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones. He becomes the club’s second signing of the January transfer window, following the arrival of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, said, “Marc has been one of the best defenders in English football for some time. We are thrilled to bring him to Manchester City. He is young, a natural leader, a top professional, and eager to improve.”

The signing is seen as a big coup for City, as Guehi was close to joining Liverpool last year before the move collapsed. He had also attracted attention from top European clubs, including Bayern Munich.

A product of the Chelsea academy, Guehi joined Crystal Palace in 2021. He played 188 games for the club and eventually became captain. He led Palace to their first-ever FA Cup win last season and later helped them lift the Community Shield in August.

Guehi has represented England 26 times since his debut in 2022. He played a key role in Euro 2024, starting every match except the quarter-final, which he missed due to suspension.

“This move feels like the result of all my hard work,” Guehi said. “I am now at the best club in England with an incredible squad. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Guehi was absent from Palace’s 2-1 loss to Sunderland on Saturday. After the match, manager Oliver Glasner, who will leave the club at the end of the season, criticized the club hierarchy, saying his players had been “abandoned completely.”

City currently sit second in the Premier League with 43 points from 22 games, seven behind Arsenal. Their next match is a Champions League trip to Bodo/Glimt today, before returning to Premier League action against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

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