Manchester City Secures Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace

Manchester City has officially secured the services of England centre-back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on a five-and-a-half-year agreement. This acquisition comes as City strives to narrow the gap with Premier League leaders Arsenal in their quest for the title.

Although financial specifics were not disclosed, reports indicate the deal is valued at approximately £20 million (RM108.8 million). Guehi, 25, had only six months left on his contract with Crystal Palace.

Bringing Guehi into the fold is a significant boost for City, who are facing injury problems with key defenders like Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones. He becomes the second player City has acquired during the January transfer period, following winger Antoine Semenyo's arrival from Bournemouth.

Hugo Viana, City's director of football, remarked, “Marc has been among the top defenders in English football for a considerable time. We’re excited to welcome him to Manchester City. He is young, an inherent leader, a professional of high caliber, and keen on development.”

This move is viewed as a significant acquisition for City; Guehi was nearly set to join Liverpool last year, a transfer that eventually fell through. He had also gained interest from several elite European clubs, including Bayern Munich.

A Chelsea academy product, Guehi made the transition to Crystal Palace in 2021. He tallied 188 appearances for the club and rose to the captaincy. During his tenure, he led Palace to their inaugural FA Cup victory in the last season and afterwards helped secure the Community Shield in August.

Guehi has earned 26 caps for England since his debut in 2022, playing a pivotal role in Euro 2024, starting every match except the quarter-final due to suspension.

“This transition feels like the culmination of my dedication and effort,” Guehi expressed. “I am now part of the top club in England with a phenomenal squad. It’s a breathtaking experience.”

Guehi was not part of Palace's 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday. That match saw manager Oliver Glasner, who will depart at the end of the season, critique the club management, stating his players felt “abandoned completely.”

Currently, City is positioned second in the Premier League with 43 points from 22 outings, sitting seven points behind Arsenal. Their upcoming match is a Champions League encounter against Bodo/Glimt today, followed by a Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.