In a remarkable revelation, Marc Guehi has disclosed that his proposed £35million summer transfer to Liverpool was dramatically aborted while he was actually undergoing his medical examination. This startling development came just before the England international completed his £20million switch to Premier League rivals Manchester City last week.
The Medical That Never Was
Guehi described the Liverpool deal as having reached an advanced stage, with the medical process substantially completed before everything unravelled at the eleventh hour. 'It was very close,' Guehi confessed. 'Very close. The medical was pretty much done and then it got pulled at the last minute.'
The defender found out about the collapse in particularly surreal circumstances – while lying inside an MRI scanner. Liverpool had effectively agreed a deal to sign the Crystal Palace centre-back on deadline day, but the move ultimately faltered because Palace could not secure a suitable replacement in time.
Manchester City's Persuasive Pitch
While Liverpool's interest dissolved, Manchester City moved decisively to secure Guehi's signature for £20million, despite his Crystal Palace contract having just six months remaining. City have identified the 25-year-old as the foundational cornerstone of their defence for the next five years, viewing him as a long-term strategic acquisition.
The club's pursuit received significant backing from within the dressing room, with both John Stones and Phil Foden personally advocating for the move during negotiations. Guehi acknowledged their influence, stating that conversations with existing City players helped convince him that the Etihad Stadium was the ideal environment for his development.
Professional Perspective Amid Turmoil
Despite the emotional turbulence of the failed Liverpool move and subsequent transfer saga, Guehi maintained a remarkably professional outlook. 'My mindset is what will be, will be,' he reflected. 'It would be doing Palace a disservice if I was acting a certain way because the club's given me everything. The least I can do is show up to work every single day, shut my mouth and keep my head down.'
This disciplined approach has served him well during what he describes as an extended period of transfer speculation. 'It's not just been a (mad) couple of weeks, I'd say a couple of years,' Guehi revealed. 'It feels like it's been going on forever.'
Immediate Impact at City
Guehi made an impressive debut for Manchester City in their 2-0 victory over Wolves, marshalling the back four effectively alongside fellow January arrival Antoine Semenyo. However, the defender remained characteristically modest about his performance, admitting 'it wasn't a perfect start' and acknowledging he needs 'to get up to speed with a lot of things.'
His arrival at City represents the culmination of extensive interest from multiple elite clubs. Bayern Munich had registered serious interest, while Newcastle United submitted a substantial £65million bid for Guehi shortly after the 2024 European Championship, underscoring his status as one of the Premier League's most coveted defenders.
A Long-Awaited Step Up
Pep Guardiola has publicly praised Guehi's considerable abilities, and this transfer marks a significant career progression for a player widely regarded among the division's finest centre-halves. Reflecting on his move to City, Guehi expressed both gratitude and excitement.
'I'm just glad that I got to move over the line,' he said. 'Obviously, it's not easy leaving a club that I've been at for so long. They've done so much for me and I'm eternally grateful to them. But I'm just really glad I can be here. I'm glad that I've joined this fantastic football club.'
Guehi concluded with a forward-looking statement about his new chapter: 'I'm really confident that this is the place for me to improve, to grow as a player. So I'm glad I could get over the line. We've been talking for quite a while and obviously talked with different clubs. Like I said, I felt from conversations, through talking with some of the players here, that this was the place for me to improve, to get better and just to help as much as possible.'
