Manchester City has officially announced the acquisition of England international centre-back Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace. The transfer is valued at an initial fee of £20 million ($27 million) with additional performance-based add-ons. Guéhi, a 25-year-old defender, has committed his future to the reigning Premier League champions by signing a comprehensive five-and-a-half-year contract, which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031.

Guéhi finalized his move to Manchester after arriving on Sunday to complete his medical examinations and sign the contractual agreement. While he is not eligible to feature in City's upcoming Champions League clash against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, fans can anticipate his potential debut in the Premier League fixture against Wolves at the Etihad on Saturday.

Expressing his excitement, Guéhi stated, "I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player. This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career. I am now at the best club in England and part of an unbelievable squad of players. It feels good to be able to say that." He further added, "I love football -- it has given me so much for so long -- and to be able to continue my development at Manchester City is a really special moment for me and my family. I absolutely cannot wait to get started now. I want to meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the manager expects of me and then show the City fans what I can do."

Sources close to the club indicate that City expedited their move for Guéhi due to a series of injuries affecting key defenders, including Josko Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, and John Stones. Club management had reportedly already identified Guéhi as a primary summer transfer target, particularly as there was a possibility he might leave Selhurst Park as a free agent. The former Chelsea youth academy product, who served as Crystal Palace's captain, has made 188 appearances for Palace since joining from Swansea in 2021, with 33 of those coming this season during their inaugural Conference League campaign. He had been linked with several top European clubs, and was reportedly close to joining Liverpool last summer.

This signing marks Manchester City's second acquisition of the January transfer window, following the earlier £62.5 million capture of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on January 9. Sources also reveal that Semenyo was initially on City's summer transfer list, but the opportunity arose to complete the deal ahead of schedule. Both Guéhi and Semenyo, while ineligible for the Bodo/Glimt match, can be registered to participate in the upcoming knock-out rounds of the Champions League.

City officials view the decisions of both Guéhi and Semenyo to commit their peak professional years to the club, despite competition from leading clubs across the Premier League and Europe, as a testament to the enduring attractiveness of Manchester City's project on both short-term and long-term fronts. Director of Football, Hugo Viana, commented on the transfer, stating, "It is clear Marc has been one of the best defenders in English football for quite some time now, so we are absolutely delighted to bring him to Manchester City. Marc is entering the prime years of his career. I am sure every City fan is excited to see how good he can be in a sky blue shirt."