Manchester City have moved decisively in the winter window, agreeing a £20 million fee with Crystal Palace for their captain and England international Marc Guehi. The 25-year-old has accepted the move, with both clubs now pushing the transfer through its final stages ahead of the weekend.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the defender will sit out their next game as paperwork and medicals are completed. “My latest understanding is that a deal with Marc is in the final stages… The result is that Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us,” Glasner said, later adding: “When the players want to move on a deal will happen… I wish him all the best for the rest of his career.”

City have accelerated the signing due to an untimely defensive injury run, and because Guehi’s Palace contract was set to expire in June. Last summer, a £35m deadline-day move to Liverpool collapsed; this January, City have stepped in and seized the moment.

Why Manchester City moved now

City’s back line has been hit hard. Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones have each faced issues in recent weeks, forcing Pep Guardiola to lean on kids — 20-year-old Max Alleyne and 21-year-old Khusanov — earlier than planned. With City six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, the risk of more dropped points was too great.

Guehi offers immediate stability and leadership. As Palace captain, he has handled pressure, captained senior pros, and played in high-stakes games. That profile is exactly what City need for the title run-in.

“City just turned a summer bidding war into a January bargain.”

Inside the deal: fee, contract length, and wages

The agreement sits at a £20m base fee, with add-ons and a sell-on clause built in for Palace. For a 25-year-old England international, that number jumps out — but it reflects the leverage of an expiring contract. Palace avoid losing their captain for nothing in June, and City secure a long-term cornerstone now.

Guehi is expected to sign a five-and-a-half-year contract that runs to 2031. His wage demand is understood to be around £200,000 per week. Fabrizio Romano summed up the moment in typical fashion: “BREAKING: Marc Guehi to Manchester City, HERE WE GO! Official proposal accepted by Crystal Palace right now — understand fee will be around £20m. Guehi has ACCEPTED move to #MCFC.”

The move also follows serious interest in Guehi as a free agent for the summer, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich among the clubs who were poised to enter the race. City’s timing ends that contest before it starts.

From near-Red to sky blue

There’s another reason this feels like smart business: Liverpool came close to signing Guehi in the summer of 2025, tabling a £35m bid that collapsed on deadline day. That price has now dropped by £15m due to contract status and calendar timing. City, aware of the market and their own needs, have acted before others could re-open talks.

Guardiola played it cool when asked about the deal, offering “nothing to say.” But City’s directorate has been anything but passive in this window. Guehi would become their second January arrival after Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, taking the club’s spend this month to £176.1m and marking a 15th signing in a year under Guardiola.

“£20m for an England international in his prime — that’s elite opportunism.”

What City get: reliability and leadership

Guehi’s appeal is clear. He is 25, battle-tested in the Premier League, and wore the armband at Palace. Across the last two league seasons, he posted five goals and four assists — useful contributions for a centre-back on set pieces and in build-up.

He has also been central to Palace lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield in that span, experiences that underline his growth in big matches. For City, that blend of calm defending and leadership could be the difference between a wobble and a surge in the title chase.

Most importantly, he raises the floor. With injuries thinning the ranks, City needed a defender who can step straight into a high line, handle one-on-ones, and stay switched on for 90 minutes. Guehi fits that bill.

Palace’s perspective: cash now, clarity later

For Palace and Glasner, this is tough timing. Losing your captain in January is never ideal. Yet keeping him through the season carried the real risk of walking him to free agency. By taking the £20m now — plus add-ons and a sell-on — Palace unlock funds and flexibility for their own rebuild under Glasner.

Glasner’s public tone was measured and respectful. “Everyone wanted Marc to stay forever,” he said. “When the players want to move on a deal will happen… I wish him all the best.” That closure matters for a dressing room that now knows where it stands.

“Glasner’s rebuild just got harder — but the books look better.”

Title race stakes for Manchester City

City trail Arsenal by six points. Margins are thin. Adding a ready-made Premier League defender should help stabilize results while Gvardiol, Dias and Stones work back to full rhythm. It also lightens the load on youngsters Alleyne and Khusanov, who will now develop without carrying the week-to-week burden.

There’s a long horizon here too. A contract to 2031 shows this is not a short patch; it’s a plan. City want Guehi’s best years, not just his next two months.

What comes next

The final steps are standard: medicals, contracts, registration. With agreement reached and the player on board, City will aim to announce quickly. Depending on timings, Guehi could be available soon after, giving Guardiola another option as the fixtures pile up.

In a window that often punishes hesitation, City have been sharp. They’ve addressed a clear need, outmaneuvered rivals before the summer rush, and captured an England international captain at a fee the market rarely offers. For Palace, it’s a painful but pragmatic sale. For City, it’s the kind of mid-season move that keeps title hopes alive — and future plans on track.