Manchester City have completed the signing of England defender Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace in a deal worth an initial £20 million ($27m), with additional performance-related add-ons.
The 25-year-old centre-back has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031.
Guéhi arrived in Manchester on Sunday, where he successfully completed his medical before finalising the move.
Although he is unavailable for selection in City’s UEFA Champions League clash against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, Guéhi could make his first appearance for the club in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Wolves at the Etihad.
“I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” Guéhi said.
“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.
“I love football, it has given me so much for so long and to be able to continue my development at Manchester City is a really special moment for me and my family.
“I absolutely cannot wait to get started now. I want to meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the manager expects of me and then show the City fans what I can do.”
Guéhi becomes City’s second signing of the January transfer window, following the club’s £64 million acquisition of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
Sources told ESPN that City accelerated their pursuit of Guéhi due to injury concerns surrounding key defenders Josko Gvardiol, Rúben Dias and John Stones.
Club officials had already earmarked the former Chelsea academy graduate as a summer target, with the possibility of him leaving Crystal Palace as a free agent.
Like Guéhi, Semenyo was also identified as a long-term target before City seized the chance to secure his signature earlier than planned. Neither player is eligible to face Bodo/Glimt, but both can be registered for the Champions League knockout stages.
City insiders believe the decisions by Guéhi and Semenyo to commit the peak years of their careers to the club, despite strong interest from elite Premier League and European sides, underline the continued appeal of City’s project.
Director of Football Hugo Viana praised the signing, describing Guéhi as one of the standout defenders in English football.
“It is clear Marc has been one of the best defenders in English football for quite some time now, so we are absolutely delighted to bring him to Manchester City,” Viana said.
“Marc is entering the prime years of his career. I am sure every City fan is excited to see how good he can be in a sky blue shirt.”
