Displaying an aggressive and determined approach, Manchester City pursued Marc Guehi with precision, hoping his defensive prowess will bolster Pep Guardiola’s increasingly uncertain backline.

Guehi had only one serious suitor this month. While major clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich were interested, City initially planned to wait for a summer move when Guehi would be available on a free transfer. Confident in their appeal, spearheaded by director of football Hugo Viana, City believed the England international would eventually choose them.

The dynamics shifted, however, due to Chelsea. An urgent need arose after Josko Gvardiol’s leg injury and Ruben Dias’s muscle strain—linked to fatigue from playing nearly every minute of eight matches within a month, save for a Carabao Cup quarter-final—left City in a commanding position.

Just a day and a half earlier, Guehi participated in a heartfelt final interview as Crystal Palace captain. His deep appreciation for the club’s supporters and staff over five seasons at Selhurst Park was evident. The typically composed 25-year-old struggled to maintain his composure, reflecting his strong connection to the club where he became Thomas Tuchel’s top choice for the World Cup.

Guehi’s departure from Palace has only boosted his standing nationwide. City has gained another leader, albeit a quieter one, who often let teammates like Joel Ward take the lead on speeches, preferring to let his actions speak volumes.

Aggressive and no-nonsense, Manchester City were ruthless in pursuit of Marc Guehi and hope those attributes are exactly what their new central defender will bring 

City pounced in January after injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias left them in dire need of defensive reinforcement

Battling his future City team-mate Erling Haaland at Selhurst Park last season – Guehi leads by example on the pitch despite being quiet off it

Illustrating this, Guehi spearheaded a leadership initiative through Palace’s charitable branch, the Palace for Life Foundation, offering two-hour workshops in schools. It’s said that he was somewhat uneasy with the attention these efforts received.

‘All Marc wants to do is do good by people without the recognition for it,’ one source told Daily Mail Sport.

Other than the obvious, that has left Oliver Glasner bereft, this is what Palace will miss and City are likely to capitalise on. It might have been Liverpool had Palace not called the £35m deal off on September’s deadline day. Or even Newcastle United, who bid up to £65m a year earlier.

Guardiola now has somebody whose calmness permeates and, for next season, three world-class centre halves alongside somebody with all the raw materials to become one in Abdukodir Khusanov.

During his in-house interview, Guehi spoke of how penning the five-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad Stadium was a ‘relief’. How being in this part of the world was an ‘honour’. He refused to list any stand-out qualities to his game.

This move, this moment, is the culmination of a carefully planned career. Two loan spells at Swansea City – the first not without complications, including the outbreak of Covid and dashing back home to his family in south London – left him with a decision to make.

Sitting down with his representatives at Unique Sports Group, Guehi opted to turn down the offer of a new contract at Chelsea and head for Palace. Tuchel and some of his Chelsea coaches, it’s believed, took some time to understand that and thought he was unwilling to fight for a place at Stamford Bridge. Turning 21 at this point, Guehi wanted to get going in the Premier League.

Guehi lifts the FA Cup with Palace after beating City in the final in May. The captain was happy to let Joel Ward do the talking in the dressing room pre-match

On loan at Swansea City in 2020 – his two stints in Wales helped Guehi’s development enormously and made him hungry for more first-team football

It’s served him well, now a man who commands wages that can reach £300,000 a week with achievable bonuses – including qualifying for the Champions League. City sources say his basic wage is significantly less than that but regardless, they committed to a package befitting the country’s strongest defender.

Guehi is for the here and now, to make sure City can fight for trophies this season – seven points behind leaders Arsenal, one foot in the Carabao Cup final, set in the Champions League despite the Bodo/Glimt embarrassment.

But he is also here to form part of the rebuild. John Stones’ contract is expiring and Nathan Ake’s minute are severely reduced. Both have been besieged by injuries over the past 18 months.

‘I see John as a big brother to be honest,’ Guehi said. ‘He’s taken me under his wing for the national team. He’s someone that has looked out for me – especially playing with him at the last Euros – it was amazing. He just makes your life easier because of his understanding of the game and how good he is.’

Before that European Championship, where Guehi and Stones was the defensive pairing as England reached the final, Gareth Southgate was not entirely sure who to partner with the Barnsley Beckenbauer. 

Players are said to have breathed a sigh of relief – and discussed that relief – after Guehi’s strong performance in the opener against Serbia. Oddly, they weren’t aware of how good he was. Regardless, he and they never looked back.

The FA knew Guehi’s potential. Part of that Under-17 World Cup winning team nine years ago – a team including new team-mate Phil Foden – Guehi was earmarked for international recognition. 

When he was given an Under-21 debut under Aidy Boothroyd away in Turkey having never played a game in senior club football, the FA were impressed at how he handled a tough 3-2 win and a febrile atmosphere. Lee Carsley went on to name him captain after just three Premier League appearances.

Guehi already has a very close relationship with fellow City centre back John Stones. ‘I see John as a big brother,’ says the 25-year-old

Guehi was earmarked for international recognition at senior level by the FA after starring in England’s Under-17 World Cup win in 2017

‘Straight away I was impressed with how mature he is, the way he talks about the game and influences the players off the pitch,’ Carsley said. ‘The example he sets off the pitch as well as on it made it an easy choice.’

All those years on, Guehi was being asked to stick around Tuchel’s England camp in November despite being injured because his seniority and influence are seen as key. He is watching games with technical director John McDermott. 

They want more leadership from him and that is coming, Guehi having previously been wary of stepping on the toes of others.

For a man who still plays the drums at the local church, where his father John is minister, this move north takes him into a different stratosphere. That can only be a good thing for England.