Marc Guéhi’s route to Manchester City ran through south London. Born in Abidjan and raised in England, he joined Chelsea’s academy as a boy, spent a formative loan season at Swansea, and then moved to Crystal Palace in 2021 in search of regular Premier League football.
At Selhurst Park he became one of the most consistent defenders in the division and, eventually, club captain. In May 2025 he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley after Palace beat Manchester City 1-0, the first major trophy in the club’s history. His performances also made him a regular in the England squad.
City signed Guéhi in January 2026 for an initial £20 million, a modest fee for an established international with his contract running down. He is comfortable on the ball, reads danger early, and brings leadership to a rebuilt City back line.
Playing style
Guéhi is a modern centre-back who combines composure with athleticism. He is quick across the ground, strong in the tackle and very rarely caught out of position, which allows his team to defend with a high line. On the ball he is tidy and progressive, happy to step into midfield or play a firm pass through the lines. At Crystal Palace he became known for his leadership and consistency, playing almost every minute across several seasons. He is comfortable on either side of a back three or four.
International career
Guéhi represented England at every youth level and won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017. He made his senior debut in 2022 and established himself during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, where he started at centre-back alongside John Stones and was one of the team’s most reliable performers. He has since been a regular in the squad.
Career in numbers
Since his first senior season in 2019/20, Guéhi has made 276 club appearances and scored 14 goals in all competitions for 4 clubs. The 2025/26 season, with 5 goals from 53 matches for Crystal Palace and Manchester City, remains his highest tally. So far in 2026/27 he has 1 goal in 7 appearances for Manchester City. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.