This deal is considered a bargain given Guehi's experience in the Premier League and with the England national team. The 25-year-old center-back is a regular for England and played a key role in Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup and Community Shield last year.

Center-back Marc Guehi after Crystal Palace's match against Sunderland at Selhurst Park, London, United Kingdom on 13/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

Guehi's arrival will help Man City address their defensive personnel crisis. Defender Josko Gvardiol recently underwent surgery for a fractured tibia and is expected to be out long-term. Ruben Dias is also injured and will need several weeks to recover. John Stones has faced recurring fitness issues in the final season of his contract, while Nathan Ake cannot sustain a high-intensity playing schedule.

Coach Pep Guardiola has recalled young player Max Alleyne from Watford and used Abdukodir Khusanov more frequently. While both have shown promise, Man City still needs an experienced center-back capable of immediately shouldering responsibility in major competitions. Guehi fulfills these requirements.

Guehi has made 26 appearances for the "Three Lions," including the Euro 2024 final. His contract with Crystal Palace is set to expire at the end of June 2026. If they did not sell Guehi during the mid-season transfer window, the London club faced losing their captain for free. Palace had hoped to receive more, especially after Liverpool agreed to a 35 million GBP (47 million USD) fee last summer, but that deal fell through at the last minute.

Palace had to accept the financially optimal solution, securing approximately 27 million USD, which represents over 10% of the club's annual revenue, rather than losing him for free in just four months.

According to Athletic, Guehi reads situations well, has decent speed, is strong in one-on-one duels, and possesses excellent ball distribution skills from the backline. This is a crucial element in Guardiola's system. He is expected to sign a contract with Man City until 2031. Before signing Guehi, Man City also activated a release clause to acquire Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in 1/2026.

Immediately after Guehi reached an agreement with Man City, coach Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave Crystal Palace at the end of this season. The Austrian coach, who led Palace to an FA Cup victory, stated he informed the board of his decision in 10/2025. He kept it confidential for several months before revealing he would not extend his contract on 16/1.

Glasner is currently leading the race for the Manchester United managerial position after the "Red Devils" sacked Ruben Amorim. Michael Carrick is temporarily managing the team until the end of the 2025-2026 season, pending the appointment of a new coach.

Hoang An (according to Telegraph, Athletic)