Marc Guehi reveals why he joined Man City as £20m transfer from Crystal Palace confirmed | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola’s title hopes boosted as highly sought-after defender joins up

The highly sought-after England international has moved for just £20million and will help to bolster Pep Guardiola’s injury-ravaged defence as City look to chase down Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

The 25-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half year deal, keeping him at the Etihad through 2031, and will wear shirt No15.

Speaking after signing, he said: “First and foremost, it is such an honour to come play for this club. For me, I have always been obsessed with getting better, wanting to improve, and that is something that I am constantly striving for.

He continued: “It’s been great to see where the club has come from.

“The growth and continued growth which the club wants to go for and strive for which is amazing.

“I am someone who just wants to come in and help and do his part and see how far the club can continue to grow.”

City moved quickly to beat their rivals to Guehi’s signature, accelerating their plans to bring him in after Josko Gvardiol broke his leg. His Crystal Palace contract was due to expire at the end of the season, and both Liverpool and Arsenal were said to be interested in taking him on.

He will prove a useful addition as Guardiola struggles to cope with a rash of defensive injuries, with the likes of John Stones and Ruben Dias joining Gvardiol in the physio’s office.

Manchester City’s Champions League meeting with Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night will come too soon for Guehi to be involved, but he will look to make his debut when Wolves visit the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

He is City’s second signing of the January window, following winger Antoine Semenyo in making the move north.

Guehi’s departure is something of a gut punch for Crystal Palace. The Eagles’ squad was already struggling to cope with the demands of competing on four fronts and must now complete the campaign without the man who captained them to a historic FA Cup title last season.