It’s Manchester City’s guilty pleasure. Almost every year, the residents of the Etihad Stadium buy a central defender when the time comes for the transfer window. A little over a year ago, they dropped €40 million to snatch Abdukodir Khusanov from Racing Club de Lens and €37 million to acquire Vitor Reis, a great talent from Palmeiras. They also paid €6 million for Jumah Ba, sent on loan to the north in the 2025 winter transfer window. In 2023, the Citizens broke the bank to dislodge the versatile Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. €90 million was needed. During the 2022-23 season, Manuel Akanji was the lucky one. City had spent €20 million to convince BVB to let him go. In 2020-21, the Skyblues spent €71.6 million for Ruben Dias and €45.3 million for Nathan Aké.
City love centrals
In short, these few examples show us that City is a big consumer of central defenders. For this 2025-26 vintage, it was Marc Guéhi who caught the eye of the English team. But she wasn’t the only one in line. Liverpool, Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Chelsea and even Real Madrid have all been linked directly or indirectly to the native of Abidjan. It must be said that his very favorable contractual situation has not escaped anyone. At the end of his contract in June 2026 at Crystal Palace, the 25-year-old footballer was available for €23 million. A sum that the Mancuniens did not hesitate to pay, determined to double the competition and strengthen a sector affected by injuries. They took action and completed his arrival on January 19.
“Manchester City are delighted to confirm the signing of Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace on a five and a half year contract. The 25-year-old England international has signed a contract which ties him to the team until the summer of 2031 »could we read on the press release. For his part, the defender, a real captain accustomed to Premier League games, confided: “I’m really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player. This transfer represents the culmination of all the hard work I have done during my career. I am now at the best club in England and part of a team of exceptional players. It’s a great feeling to be able to say that.”
A good deal
He added: “I want to progress as a player and as a person, and I know that within this club that will happen. I like football. He gave me so much for so long. Being able to continue my development at Manchester City is a truly special moment for me and my family. I really can’t wait to get started. I want to meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the coach expects of me and then show the City fans what I am capable of.” And we can say that he matched his words with action. Since his signing, Guéhi has participated in 7 matches in all competitions under his new colors. In detail, it was used 6 times in the Premier League.
And he did not experience defeat as his team won against Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Fulham, Newcastle and Leeds. She conceded a draw against Tottenham. Each time, Guéhi was on the field for 90 minutes. With him on the pitch, City have only conceded 4 goals in the Premier League. It should also be added that he participated in an FA Cup match. This time, he spent 25 minutes on the green rectangle during the 2-0 victory and even scored his first goal at Manchester City. The only downside is that he cannot participate in the League Cup. The regulations prohibit it. Despite Pep Guardiola’s rant, Guéhi will not be able to play the final of this competition against Arsenal on March 22. Given the importance the Englishman has gained at City, this is not good news.
A captain in the Mancunian defense
“Rules are rules and I understand. Antoine (Semenyo) can play and Marc will not play, that’s the rule, that suits me. Can we agree or disagree? That’s not the question.”admitted Guardiola, who fell in love with the defender born in 2000. “He’s a fantastic player, it shows. An exceptional signing for Manchester City for the next five, six, seven, eight years. He’s one of the best. It’s not just his talent, it’s also his mentality, his professionalism, his way of life. He has many qualities that make him an excellent central defender, beyond his talent. He can count on him in the Premier League, to get ahead of Arsenal who are losing ground, and in the Champions League, since he is qualified for the rest of the event.
Guéhi is eager to compete in this competition, he who already feels like a fish in water in Manchester where his solidity in duels, his power, his composure and his intelligence of play and positioning are praised. “He (Guardiola) has improved my game enormously. When you have a coach, a staff and teammates who are so concerned about the level of play, you reach heights. I hope I can continue this momentum.” In addition to being unanimous in his new club, the English international under contract until 2031 also attracts the favor of the sports press. This is the case of the BBC. “When Manchester City were initially linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi in January, the usual criticism lambasted alleged greed and ostentatious financial might. Some even said that sporting director Hugo Viana’s commercial strategy and approach to the transfer market was superfluous.
Everyone bows
The English publication continues: “Entering their third month at the club, Semenyo and Guehi are not only proving that they are worth their weight in gold, but also demonstrating why they could well be the players to make the difference in the Premier League title race. Under intense pressure from Elland Road and against a Daniel Farke team determined to impose their game in transition and from set pieces, Guéhi held his own and demonstrated that he is much more than just an elegant and technical central defender. The former Crystal Palace captain was a tough, tenacious player determined to give his heart and soul to the cause. He seems to be adored by players like Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who played alongside him. In Spain, where Real Madrid will cross paths with City in C1, we are amazed by the Englishman, nominated for the Man City player of the month title.
A.S. wrote about him: “That Guéhi is one of the best central defenders in the Premier League is nothing new. What was perhaps more surprising at the Etihad Stadium was that in just one month and for the modest sum of €23 million, he became the ‘Kaiser’ and pillar of City’s defence. The statistics speak for themselves: seven games under Pep Guardiola, and no defeat for Manchester City since.” Hugo Viana, the sporting director of the Skyblues, is already rubbing his hands with Guéhi (40 matches in all competitions this season between Palace and City, 4 goals and 4 assists). Same thing for the British club and Guardiola, who has a new boss in his defense. Thomas Tuchel, who will lead the Three Lions this summer at the World Cup, must also be delighted. In short, Marc Guéhi makes people happy but also victims. This evening, he hopes to put Nottingham Forest on his target.
