“It’s really, really important” – Pep Guardiola justifies £300,000-a-week Marc Guehi coup after derby loss | OneFootball

Marc Guehi is a very important and timely addition to Manchester City’s depleted, injury-riddled ranks, manager Pep Guardiola has admitted.

City confirmed the signing of the 25-year-old defender from Crystal Palace on Monday afternoon, with Guehi putting pen to paper on a long-term contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium till the summer of 2031.

Guehi is Manchester City’s second signing of the January transfer window as the Blues take their mid-season spending to £84 million, having also secured the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth earlier this month.

The Blues desperately need cover in defence in the wake of injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the start of the month – a key turning point in the club’s January transfer strategy and one that forced Etihad Stadium officials to recall academy graduate Max Alleyne from loan at Watford.

City are winless in the Premier League so far in 2026, having drawn thrice against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton before suffering their first loss in 14 games in all competitions against Manchester United at the weekend.

Guardiola and co are seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal and after putting in a drab, toothless display at Old Trafford on Saturday, there are huge concerns over Manchester City’s prospects in the title race.

However, Guehi’s arrival for a cut-price fee of £20 million hands Manchester City a massive personnel boost as the Blues have gotten their hands on one of the Premier League’s best defenders as he enters his prime.

Reflecting on City’s shrewd signing of the 25-year-old ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with Bodo/Glimt, Guardiola said: “A top central defender, playing for the national team. Personally, thanks to the club to bring him here because he’s come at the perfect age, from many years, can play right and left.

“And to him especially because I know how much he wanted to choose us. It’s really, really important he’s here.”

Guehi attracted widespread interest from the best clubs in the Premier League as he entered the last six months of his contract at Crystal Palace, whom he nearly left to join Liverpool last summer.

“I’m pretty sure if he (Marc Guehi) had a long contract at Crystal Palace it would have been impossible, but the fact that it’s six months (left) end of contract, the situation was easier in those terms,” Guardiola added on Guehi’s arrival.

“But of course, Crystal Palace and Man City have to agree and after, the player decided to come. Otherwise, even in that situation, it would not be possible.”

Guardiola will know that Guehi, who is believed to be earning £300,000-per-week at the Etihad Stadium, will play a crucial role in helping fulfil the club’s aspirations for silverware as the season progresses, after Manchester City put in one of their worst-ever displays under the Catalan against Manchester United on Saturday.

“We didn’t talk one word about (Manchester) United and I think we’ll talk before Wolves, but now it’s another competition,” Guardiola said on how he and his squad dissected their performance across town.

“Last season (at this stage), we had seven points, we have 13. Last season, in this moment, we were in Paris, 0-2 in five or 10 minutes of the second-half, and after we lost 4-2.

“In that moment, PSG was out of the competition, and after they won unbelievably the UEFA Champions League deservedly. Today, we have 13 (points) and the chance to qualify in the top-eight; that I think is enough of an argument to be focussed on tomorrow, and not the past.”

Manchester City will be desperate to return to winning ways in midweek against Bodo/Glimt as Guehi prepares to make his debut for the north-west club against Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.