Manchester City have completed the signing of defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in a deal worth an initial £20m.
An injury crisis at centre-half has prompted City to swoop for the Palace captain, who was out of contract at the end of this season and was close to joining Liverpool on Deadline Day last summer for £35m.
As well as the initial fee, a percentage sell-on clause was inserted into the deal for the 25-year-old, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal until 2031 at the Etihad
‘I am now at the best club in England’
On signing for City, Guehi said: “I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player.
“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 want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that’s going to happen.
“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.”
Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were among the clubs that had been interested in signing Guehi on a free transfer this coming summer.
Guehi becomes Pep Guardiola’s second January signing after the £64m arrival of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.
The ex-Chelsea defender’s arrival also takes City’s transfer spend in the last 12 months to £445.9m on 15 players.
‘Guehi is entering his prime years’
Man City director of Football Hugo Viana added: “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.
“I feel we have signed a huge talent who will help us improve. He is only 25, but he has shown already he is a leader, a brilliant professional and someone desperate to improve. He is strong, has exceptional defensive qualities, is an intelligent reader of the game, and brings passion and energy every time he steps onto the pitch. I am so pleased it was us he chose to join.
“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.”
Pep: This would have been impossible but for Guehi’s contract
Guardiola himself thanked the City hierarchy for sanctioning Guehi’s signing, and said he felt the deal was only possible owing to the short length of time left on the defender’s Palace contract – with other suitors hoping to wait to sign him on a free transfer in the summer.
The Man City boss said: “He is a top central defender and is playing for the national team.
“Thanks to the club for bringing him here. He can play right and left. I know how he wanted to choose 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, the situation was easier.
“But of course, Crystal Palace and Man City have to agree and after, the player decides to come. Otherwise, even in that situation, it would not be possible.”
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