Marc Guéhi Set for Manchester City Move as Barcelona Miss Out

Marc Guéhi is closing in on a move to Manchester City after agreeing personal terms and preparing to undergo a medical ahead of a £20 million transfer.

The England international is expected to complete his switch this month, with negotiations accelerating in recent days as a series of defensive injuries has left Pep Guardiola short of options at centre-back. City moved swiftly to secure the 25-year-old, unwilling to wait until the summer despite his contractual situation.

Guéhi had entered the final phase of his Crystal Palace deal and was widely viewed across Europe as a potential free-transfer opportunity at the end of the season. Several Spanish heavyweights, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, had been monitoring his situation closely in anticipation of a possible move.

That prospect has now been extinguished after City reached an agreement with Palace, effectively ending interest from Spain before it could develop into formal bids. Liverpool had also maintained an interest following a failed attempt to sign Guéhi last summer, but were prepared to bide their time — a patience Manchester City ultimately did not share.

Barcelona’s interest had been more advanced earlier in the winter window. The Catalan club reportedly held discussions with Guéhi’s representatives and explored the possibility of a pre-contract agreement, viewing the defender as an ideal fit for Hansi Flick’s tactical system. However, the move was ultimately shelved due to wage demands that exceeded the club’s financial expectations, prompting Barcelona to withdraw from negotiations.

According to reports from Diario SPORT, Barcelona subsequently considered alternative options, with Axel Disasi and Nathan Aké both proposed as potential January reinforcements. Neither deal progressed, however, with City insisting on mandatory purchase clauses and Barcelona’s sporting department prioritising long-term squad planning over short-term solutions.

With Andreas Christensen currently sidelined and uncertainty surrounding Ronald Araújo’s future, Barcelona are now expected to refocus their efforts on signing a left-footed centre-back in the summer. Nico Schlotterbeck, Murillo and Marcos Senesi are among the names believed to be under consideration.

Guéhi’s departure will mark the end of a significant chapter at Crystal Palace. Since joining from Swansea City in 2020, the Chelsea academy graduate has made 188 appearances for the club and captained the side during a historic FA Cup triumph at Wembley — a final that came against Manchester City.