Marc Guéhi

Addji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guéhi ( GAY-ee; born 13 July 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team.

Guéhi came through the youth system at Chelsea and made his first-team debut in 2019 before spending a season and a half on loan at Swansea City. He joined Crystal Palace in 2021 for £18 million, becoming the club's third most expensive signing. He went on to make over 180 appearances for the club; appointed club captain in 2024, he led them to win both the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025.

Born in the Ivory Coast, Guéhi has represented England at youth level and was a key part of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad. He made his debut for the senior team in 2022, and was a starting member of the squad that were runners-up at UEFA Euro 2024.

Early life

Addji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guéhi was born on 13 July 2000 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and moved with his family to Lewisham, London, England, at the age of one. He attended St George's Church of England School in Gravesend, Kent. His father was a minister of a local church, meaning his childhood often focused on religion and education over football. He began playing in the Cray Wanderers youth system aged six and was coached by a scout from Premier League club Chelsea. After two years with the non-League club, he signed for Chelsea and progressed through the academy.

Club career

Chelsea

Progressing through the youth ranks, Guéhi regularly featured for the under-18s during their treble-winning campaign in 2017. In September 2017, he signed his first professional contract, for three years. The following season, he helped the under-18s win a quadruple and reach the final of the UEFA Youth League.

On 12 May 2019, Guéhi was named in a Premier League squad for the first time as a substitute in a 0–0 draw away to Leicester City. He featured as an unused substitute a further three times during the 2019–20 season. On 17 September, he was an unused substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Valencia in the UEFA Champions League. The following week, he made his professional debut in a 7–1 win against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup third round. His second and final appearance for the club came in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United in the fourth round on 30 October.

Loans to Swansea City

On 10 January 2020, Guéhi joined Championship club Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season. The move saw him re-unite with Steve Cooper, who had previously managed him in England's 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad. After being named as an unused substitute on two occasions, Guéhi made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Stoke City on 25 January. He remained in the starting lineup for the next four games, but came under criticism after Swansea failed to win any of their last five games. Cooper backed the defender and stated "it's difficult for young players to make an instant impact".

Following a three-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Guéhi was named on the bench twice before returning as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw against Millwall. On 5 July, he made his first start in five months in a 2–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. He started in all five of Swansea's remaining league matches and helped guide the team to sixth place and a play-off position. He featured in both legs of the semi-final as Swansea lost 3–2 on aggregate to Brentford.

On 26 August 2020, Guéhi returned to Swansea on loan for the 2020–21 season. He became a regular in defence with only four Swansea players appearing for more minutes throughout the campaign. Guéhi began the season with three consecutive clean sheets against Preston North End, Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers, and went on to keep a further 14 in the league as Swansea finished fourth. He played every minute of their play-off campaign, beating Barnsley 2–1 across the semi-finals before a 2–0 final defeat to Brentford.

Crystal Palace

2021–2024: Early seasons

On 18 July 2021, Guéhi joined Crystal Palace on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £18 million, making him the club's third-most expensive signing of all-time, behind Christian Benteke and Mamadou Sakho. It was also reported that Chelsea had included sell-on incentives and the right to match any offers made for Guéhi in future.

On 20 November 2021, Guéhi scored the first senior goal of his career in a 3–3 draw with Burnley in the Premier League. He scored a consolation goal in a 2–1 loss to Aston Villa at Selhurst Park a week later, ensuring he had scored in back-to-back games. Overall, he made 42 appearances in his first season, forming a centre-back partnership with Joachim Andersen and starting in Palace's run to the FA Cup semi-final, as well as scoring goals in wins against Hartlepool United and Everton along the way.

In the following campaign, the 2022–23 season, Guéhi started all but one of Crystal Palace's games in all competitions, as well as scoring a goal in a 5–1 routing of Leeds United on 9 April 2023. He spent several months of the 2023–24 season out with a knee injury, though returned for the final few matches of the season.

2024–2025: Captaincy and FA Cup win

Amidst interest and numerous bids rejected from Newcastle United, Guéhi was named club captain ahead of the 2024–25 season, replacing Joel Ward. He scored a career-best three Premier League goals over the season, against Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City; he also scored three own goals, in a 3–1 win at rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, and both home and away against Newcastle, becoming the second player in Premier League history to do so home and away against an opponent in a single campaign after Jamie Carragher against Tottenham Hotspur in 1998–99. He was also sent off for the first time in his career on 5 April 2025, receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time in a 2–1 home win against Brighton.

On 17 May, Guéhi captained Crystal Palace to the club's first ever major trophy, starting in a 1–0 victory over Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final; he lifted the trophy alongside previous captain Ward, having been substituted off with an injury in the second half.

2025–2026: Community Shield win and final season

On 10 August 2025, Guéhi captained Palace in the 2025 FA Community Shield against Liverpool, later lifting his second trophy following Palace's win in the penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. Amid links with a transfer to Liverpool the next day, Palace chairman Steve Parish stated that Guéhi, with a year left on his contract and no interest in an extension, would likely be sold to avoid the club losing him for free the following summer. However, Palace manager Oliver Glasner contradicted Parish's words, stating the following week that Guéhi "[had] to stay" at the club.

In spite of further speculation towards the end of the transfer window, Guéhi started in a 3–0 win at Aston Villa on 30 August, scoring Palace's second goal, a "stunning curling effort" that went on to be nominated for Premier League Goal of the Month; his teammate Dean Henderson was later shown urging him to say goodbye to the Palace fans after the full-time whistle. Following the match, Glasner reiterated that Palace could not sell Guéhi. The following day, which was transfer deadline day, Liverpool agreed a £35 million deal with Palace for Guéhi, who completed an hour-long medical and was on the verge of signing a five-year contract with the Premier League champions. However, the transfer dramatically collapsed minutes before the deadline, with Palace, having been unable to secure an adequate replacement in time, pulling out of the deal. It was reported by some outlets that Glasner had threatened to resign from his position as manager had Guéhi been sold. Guéhi was later nominated for Premier League Player of the Month for August 2025.

On 7 December, Guéhi scored an 87th-minute winner against Fulham to seal a 2–1 win for Palace. His last goal for Palace was a 95th-minute equaliser against Arsenal in the EFL Cup on 23 December to seal a 1–1 draw, though Arsenal went on to triumph on penalties. On 10 January 2026, he played all 90 minutes as Palace's FA Cup defence came to an end in an historic 2–1 defeat to sixth division side Macclesfield, and was later seen conversing with supporters after the full-time whistle; the match ended up being his final game for Crystal Palace.

Manchester City

On 19 January 2026, Manchester City completed the signing of Guéhi for a reported fee of £20 million. On 24 January, Guéhi made his debut for the club, starting and keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 14 February, Guéhi scored his first City goal as a substitute for John Stones in a 2–0 home win over EFL League Two side Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round.