Marc Guehi: Man City sign Crystal Palace defender for initial £20m as spending reaches £425m in 12 months

Manchester City have signed defender Marco Guehi from Crystal Palace in a deal worth an initial £20m.

An injury crisis at centre-half has forced City to turn to the Palace captain, who is out of contract at the end of this season and was close to joining Liverpool on assignment day last summer for £35m.

In addition to the initial fee, the contract included a percentage of sales clause for the 25-year-old, who signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at the Etihad until 2031.

“Now I’m at the best club in England”

On signing for City, Guehi said: “I’m really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player.

“This move is 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 amazing team of players. It feels good to be able to say that. I want to grow as a player and as a person, and I know that will happen at this club.

“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 can’t wait to get started now. I want to meet my team-mates, train hard, understand what the manager expects from me and then show the City fans what I can do.”

Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were among the clubs interested in signing Gueha on a free transfer this summer.

Guehi becomes Pep Guardiola’s second January signing following the £64million striker’s arrival Antoine Semenho from Bournemouth.

The former Chelsea defender’s arrival also takes City’s transfer spending over the past 12 months to £445.9m on 15 players.

‘Guehi enters his best years’

Manchester City Director of Football Hugo Viana added: “It’s clear that Mark has been one of the best defenders in English football for some time, so we are absolutely delighted to bring him to Manchester City.”

“I feel we have signed a great talent who will help us progress. He is only 25 years old, but he has already shown himself to be a leader, a brilliant professional and someone who is desperate to improve. He is strong, has exceptional defensive qualities, reads the game intelligently and brings passion and energy every time he steps on the pitch. I am delighted he has joined us.”

“Marc is entering the best years of his career. I’m sure every City fan is excited to see how good he can be in the sky blue shirt.”

Pep: This would have been impossible if it wasn’t for Guehi’s contract

Guardiola himself thanked the City hierarchy for sanctioning Gehi’s signing, and said he felt a deal was only possible due to the short time left on the defender’s Palace contract – while other suitors hope to wait to sign him on a free transfer in the summer.

The Man City boss said: “He is a top centre-back and he plays for the national team.

“Thanks to the club for bringing him here. He can play right and left. I know how he wanted to select us.

“I’m pretty sure if he had a long contract at Crystal Palace it would have been impossible, but the fact that he (had) six months before the end of his contract made it easier.”

“But of course Crystal Palace and Man City have to agree and after that the player decides to come. Otherwise, even in that situation, it wouldn’t be possible.

City will be shouting from the rooftops about Guehi for a cheap buy

Peter Smith of Sky Sports:

Marc Guehi is calm and modest off the field. But his transfer to Man City has created quite a stir – and that is a reflection of his growing reputation, clear talent and the perceived value of the deal for City and Crystal Palace.

The centre-back is an inevitable starter for England at the upcoming World Cup, and after captaining Palace to FA Cup glory last season, a move to one of the Premier League’s top sides was inevitable. Oliver Glasner’s frustration at what had to happen now underscores Guehi’s quality and influence.

It looked like it would be Liverpool on Deadline Day in the summer, but instead it’s City this January. And what a coup for Pep Guardiola. In the short term, Guehi is the perfect replacement for the injured Josko Guardiola. In the long term, the 25-year-old will be seen as a central, leading figure as City look to launch another chapter of success. Liverpool’s loss is City’s gain – and beating their arch-rivals to his signature could be significant for seasons to come.

Last month, Guehi said Ski Sports about his personal desire to move to a higher level, in terms of his own performance. “I’m trying to improve my game and be as well-rounded as possible,” he said. Guardiola is certainly the manager who helps the players achieve that. Still, a move to City’s back four looks like a direct change for the defender who plays on the left in the centre-back pairing for England, despite his role as a back-three at Palace.

Expect him to accept the challenge with typical understated determination – but City and their supporters will be shouting from the rooftops about what a great bargain this £20m deal could be for them.

Glasner expresses anger at the sale

After Crystal Palace’s defeat by Sunderland on Saturday, Oliver Glasner said his side had been “completely abandoned” by the club’s hierarchy over the decision to sell Guehi so close to the match.

He explained that Ski Sports: “The players gave everything they could. We didn’t make any substitutions – look at the bench, there are only kids there.

“We feel like we’ve been completely abandoned. To sell our captain the day before the game – there’s no understanding of this.”

Oliver Glasner confirmed that he will leave club at the end of the season.