Guehi joins Man City from Crystal Palace for reported £20M fee
Manchester City completed the signing of center-back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on Monday.
City agreed to pay £20 million for the English international, according to BBC Sport. The 25-year-old signed a contract until 2031 at the Etihad Stadium. His terms at Crystal Palace were due to expire at the end of the season.
"This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career. 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," Guehi said.
Bayern Munich and Liverpool were targeting a free transfer for Guehi once his Palace terms expired, per Agence France-Presse. Liverpool reportedly had a £35-million transfer in place last summer, but Palace scrapped the deal after failing to find a replacement prior to the closure of the summer window.
The defender, who has 26 England caps, captained Crystal Palace to silverware in the FA Cup - which was the first major trophy in the club's history - and the Community Shield.
City increased their efforts to bring Guehi aboard in January in the wake of injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. John Stones hasn't started a Premier League fixture since October and last appeared as a substitute on Dec. 2 due to his own fitness issues. Twenty-year-old defender Max Alleyne was recalled from his loan spell with Watford on Jan. 5 and immediately started City's next four games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Exeter City, Newcastle United, and Manchester United.
Guehi, who will wear No. 15 at City, said he was excited to link up with England teammates Phil Foden and Stones at his new club, and now believes he's in the right environment to develop even more as a player.
"I have always just been obsessed with getting better and wanting to improve and that's something I am constantly striving for and this is the perfect place for me to do that," Guehi said.
Guehi represents Manchester City's second major signing of the January window after they added attacker Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £62.5-million initial fee.