Marc Guehi Speaks Out on Liverpool Transfer Collapse and Manchester City Move
England international Marc Guehi has broken his silence on the dramatic collapse of his proposed transfer to Liverpool last summer, revealing that he never felt bitter about the failed move because he believed it was his destiny to join Manchester City instead. The defender's switch to the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window came less than five months after his £35 million move to Anfield fell through at the eleventh hour.
The Liverpool Deal That Never Was
Guehi had completed a medical on Merseyside after Liverpool agreed a fee with Crystal Palace, only for Palace chairman Steve Parish to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute. This forced the defender to return to Selhurst Park, but unlike some players who might have agitated for a move, Guehi adopted a professional approach.
"The medical was pretty much done, and then it got pulled at the last minute," Guehi explained. "So, yeah, I was quite close to joining Liverpool. I was OK. My mindset is always move on to the next one. God's got a plan for me."
The centre-back emphasised his commitment to Crystal Palace during the intervening period, stating: "Getting bought by Palace was such an honour, a blessing, so it would be doing Palace a disservice if I was acting a certain way. The least I could do was show up to work every single day, shut my mouth and keep my head down."
Manchester City Calling
Guehi's patience was rewarded when Manchester City came calling in January, with the defender describing how conversations with England teammates John Stones and Phil Foden helped convince him that the Etihad was the right destination for his development.
"We've been talking for quite a while, and obviously I also talked with different clubs," Guehi revealed. "But 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."
He added: "They just spoke so highly of the football club and the people at the football club. And for me, that's most important. When you come to a place, you want to feel the love, the appreciation and the welcome. So far since I've been here, I've felt every bit of that."
Settling In at City
Guehi enjoyed a comfortable debut for his new club, with Manchester City cruising to a 2-0 victory over Wolves thanks to first-half goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo. The win marked City's first league victory of 2026.
Manager Pep Guardiola has been impressed with how quickly the former Crystal Palace captain has adapted to life at Manchester City, despite being unavailable for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Galatasaray.
"The captain of Crystal Palace has to be something special," Guardiola said. "I'm really pleased for him. He is so demanding of ourselves to do better. Good players adapt quick and understand the game. And that's what he's done."
Transfer Implications
Guehi's arrival at the Etihad is expected to have significant implications for the Manchester City squad, with fellow defender John Stones likely to depart in the summer. This development carries particular irony given that Stones was one of the England teammates who helped persuade Guehi to choose City over other interested clubs.
The defender concluded by expressing his confidence in his decision: "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."
