Manchester City have completed the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi for £30 million, a move that has left Liverpool and several other Premier League clubs ruing a missed opportunity. The England international, who was widely expected to leave Palace on a free transfer in the summer, has instead been snapped up by the reigning champions in a bargain deal.
Liverpool had been strongly linked with Guehi after their defensive struggles this season, with reports suggesting they would pursue him in 2026. However, City's intervention has ended any hope of a future move, as the 25-year-old will now bolster Pep Guardiola's backline. The transfer also affects Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, each of whom had varying levels of interest in the defender.
Arsenal, though well-stocked at centre-back, have watched City strengthen further, while Chelsea will receive a sell-on fee from the deal but lose a player who could have improved their squad. Manchester United, who are targeting Nottingham Forest's Murillo, might have considered Guehi a statement signing, though uncertainty over European football may have been a factor.
Crystal Palace face a mixed outcome: losing their captain mid-season but securing a fee for a player determined to leave for free. Meanwhile, City are clear winners, landing a top-class defender at a fraction of his market value, with Guehi's price likely to rise after the 2026 World Cup.
