England defender Marc Guehi has completed a move to Manchester City from Crystal Palace, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
City accelerated their pursuit of Guehi amid a centre-back injury crisis, with the deal reportedly valued at £20 million ($27 million). The transfer had been widely anticipated.
“I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” Guehi said in a statement. “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. I want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that’s going to happen.”
City director of football Hugo Viana praised the 25-year-old defender, describing him as “one of the best defenders in English football for quite some time now.” He added, “We have signed a huge talent who will help us improve. He is already a leader, a brilliant professional, and someone desperate to get better.”
Guehi had been close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day last September. He becomes City’s second signing of the January window, following the capture of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for around £65 million.
The centre-back captained Palace to their first-ever FA Cup triumph in May, defeating City in the final, and has earned 26 England caps.
Other clubs reportedly interested in Guehi including Liverpool and Bayern Munich were expected to target a move at the end of the season when his contract would have expired. Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed last Friday that the deal was in its final stages.
Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, sit second in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal. They were without central defenders John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
AFP
