Manchester City have reportedly reached a deal in principle with Crystal Palace to sign England centre-back Marc Guéhi, with multiple outlets stating that the fee is around £20 million as City moves quickly to address a defensive injury crisis.
While City and Palace were still reported to be finalising “finer points” of the agreement at the time of reporting, the move appears to be advanced enough that Guéhi is not expected to feature for Palace in their next fixture.
What we know about the deal so far
Reported fee and structure
- Initial fee: around £20m
- Sky Sports reports the deal includes additional clauses (including a sell-on element) with discussions continuing on details.
- ESPN also reports the transfer is in the final stages, though a “final agreement” was still being completed.
Contract situation
Guéhi’s contract at Palace is widely reported to be running down, which helps explain the “cut-price” nature of the reported fee compared to previous windows when bigger numbers were discussed.
Why Man City wants Guéhi now
City’s push is being linked directly to injuries in central defence. The Guardian reports City have key centre-backs sidelined, forcing the club to move in January rather than wait until the summer.
Guéhi, 25, is valued for:
- strong 1v1 defending and recovery pace,
- leadership (he is Palace captain), and
- Premier League experience at a high level.
Crystal Palace’s stance and what Oliver Glasner said
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has indicated the transfer is close, and reported quotes suggest Guéhi will not be involved in upcoming matches due to the situation.
Reuters also reports Glasner confirmed Guéhi is set to leave, though it noted he did not publicly name the buying club in that report.
What happens next
If the final details are completed as expected, the remaining steps typically include:
- completing paperwork and final clauses,
- medical/fitness checks, and
- contract signing/registration.
Some outlets are already describing the move as imminent, but until official club confirmation, it remains a reported deal in principle.
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