Marc Guehi's behaviour after a proposed transfer to Liverpool collapsed at the last minute revealed his professionalism and mentality, qualities that have helped him become one of Manchester City's most important players.
Five months before completing his £20m move to City, Guehi looked set to join Liverpool. The Merseyside club had agreed a £35m deal with Crystal Palace, and the defender had even completed his medical. But the transfer fell through after Palace pulled the plug at the 11th hour, having failed to secure a suitable replacement.
A telling reaction
Guehi had every reason to feel frustrated, having presumably been preparing for a new chapter at Anfield. But he showed no obvious signs of discontent. He joined up with England just days after the move collapsed and, by all accounts, remained his usual self, reportedly all smiles in training, laughing and joking with team-mates rather than allowing his disappointment to affect his preparations.
That small but revealing indication of his character offered an insight into the kind of player Manchester City were getting when they eventually secured his signature.
Settling in at City
The 26-year-old wasted little time settling in at the Etihad Stadium. After a run of just one win in six games, City went unbeaten in the league from Guehi's arrival until the final day of the season, winning 10 of their 15 matches during that spell.
He helped shore up a defence that had looked vulnerable in the months before his arrival and quickly established himself as a first-team regular, competing with Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov for places in City's backline.
Silverware and a strong start
Guehi's arrival helped spark a revival, although it was not enough for City to overhaul Arsenal and reclaim the Premier League title. They did, however, finish the campaign with silverware, beating Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final, with fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo scoring the decisive goal.
Guehi has made an impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign. Despite conceding three times in City's Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, Enzo Maresca's side responded by winning their opening two Premier League games. Guehi scored in the 2-1 victory over Bournemouth before producing another assured display in the 4-1 win against former club Crystal Palace.
He is expected to feature again when City travel to Coventry on Saturday, with Maresca's men aiming to make it three league wins from three.
