BREAKING: Marc Guehi to Manchester City is ON

Manchester City have secured a major transfer coup by agreeing a £20m deal with Crystal Palace for England defender Marc Guehi, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano with his iconic "HERE WE GO!" announcement[3][1][2]. The 25-year-old center-back, whose contract was set to expire at season's end, has verbally accepted a five-and-a-half-year contract until 2031, with the Etihad Stadium as his new home[2].

Negotiations accelerated in the last 24 hours amid City's defensive crisis, with key center-backs Josko Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, and John Stones sidelined by injuries, leaving Pep Guardiola reliant on inexperienced youngsters like 20-year-old Alleyne and 21-year-old Khusanov[2][1]. Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Guehi's absence from Saturday's Premier League clash against Sunderland, stating: "A deal with Marc is in the final stages. I can't confirm a club, but it's not done yet—the result is that Marc doesn't play tomorrow"[1][2].

This bargain buy—initial £20m plus add-ons and a sell-on clause—beats out interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and others who eyed a free transfer in summer[1][3]. Liverpool fans are left ruing a collapsed £35m deal last summer on deadline day, questioning why Arne Slot didn't act sooner with only three senior center-backs available[3]. Guardiola dodged questions in his pre-Manchester United presser, saying he had "nothing to say" on Guehi[1].

Guehi, Palace's captain and one of the Premier League's top defenders, brings peak-year experience and slots perfectly into City's backline[1]. He's City's second January signing after winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, marking Guardiola's 15th acquisition in a year amid £176.1m January 2025 spending[1][5]. Pundits hail it as a winter window masterstroke, securing elite talent at a fraction of his value[5][3].

(Word count: 298)