Marc Guéhi, the calm authority to steady Manchester City’s defence | OneFootball

Manchester City have signed England centre-back Marc Guéhi for €23m, backing his calm authority to steady a wavering defence. According to L'Équipe, the 26-cap defender arrives with leadership credentials after captaining Crystal Palace since late 2023.

Roy Hodgson once suggested he had the stature to captain England, then softened the remark to avoid piling on pressure. Patrick Vieira made him Palace skipper at 21, convinced the centre-back had the character for it.

Raised at Chelsea from the Under-eights, the Ivorian-born, French-speaking defender played only two League Cup games for the first team. He was a 2017 Under-17 world champion and reached the 2018 Youth League final alongside talents such as Reece James and Conor Gallagher.

At Palace he thrived under Vieira’s staff, reputed for relentless extra work. Aside from a knee issue that sidelined him for three months in 2023-24, he stayed fit, earned an England starting berth and attracted renewed interest from Chelsea before City struck.

Former assistant Saïd Aïgoun describes a quick reader of the game who makes rapid decisions, steps out cleanly in a high line and builds with precision off either foot. He views Guéhi as a near-ideal fit for City’s approach.

Pep Guardiola views him as an excellent centre-back and values his versatility, with Guéhi comfortable on the right or left of central defence, useful while Gvardiol, Dias and Stones nurse injuries.

Some question his aerial dominance, yet André Ayew argues he compensates for a 1.82m frame with smart positioning and timing, work they honed together at Swansea. Facing Erling Haaland in training should sharpen that further. Ayew believes he will soon rank among the world’s best centre-backs.

Source: L'Équipe