Every word Marc Guehi said in Crystal Palace farewell video

Martin Macdonald

• 19 Jan 2026 10:10 CST
• 6 min read

Nieuws

Marc Guehi has signed for Manchester City from Crystal Palace.

The England international's exit at Selhurst Park has been inevitable for a while and it looked extremely likely that he would leave in the summer window, with Liverpool tracking him for months only to see the deal break down on deadline day.

If Guehi didn't sign for another team in this January transfer window, he would have left on a free transfer in the summer of 2026, as confirmed by the player himself.

Liverpool were expected to come in again for Guehi but they have been beaten to the punch by Man City, who acted quickly to sign the centre-back for around £20 million to solve their injury crisis in the backline.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were previously mentioned as potential summer destinations.

Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea in 2021 for £18m and he has steadily emerged as one of the Premier League's best defenders, eventually becoming a regular for England, too.

The club clearly means a lot to the player, as highlighted by a five-minute video posted on social media following his exit.

Here's what Guehi said:

"I think the overriding emotion for me is gratitude. So incredibly grateful to have played at this football club. So many great players have come here and left their mark and I think just to be someone who's even just stepped into this football club and been able to play in front of these incredible fans has been such an amazing journey for me. To be a South London boy representing a South London club. I understand how every fan feels. It's absolutely everything to them. It's their life. It's their religion. It's what gets them up in the morning. It's what gives them joy. It's what brings them sadness. So every emotion possible is tied to the football club.

A South London boy turned Crystal Palace legend 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Iua6UtDwaH

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 19, 2026

"To wear the arm band for this football club has been such a blessing. You know, it was such an incredible responsibility to have at such a young age, but knowing that I had the support of every single fan was amazing. The culture of the squad, the culture of the football club is encapsulated by the fans. It's encapsulated by the community and what South London means to every single person, what South London means to me. And I think every person I've played with, all the coaches I've been coached by, they've all understood that. And I'm so incredibly grateful to have played with so many fantastic players. I am a product of every encounter that I had with every single one of my teammates. on the pitch, off the pitch. They have made me a better person. They've made me a better football player. They've allowed me to grow. And I'm so grateful to have played with each and every one of them. Especially grateful to my coaches who have helped me to grow, helped me to improve each and every single day. You know, God has put them in my life to allow me to be where I am today. And definitely the staff. I come into work every single day with a smile on my face because there's good people at the football club.

"And that's what South London is about. That's what Crystal Palace is about. Having good people who love the football club and who just want to do well by every single person. And I'm so incredibly grateful to every single member of staff. If I could go for every single person's name, I would. And what they've done for me and the encounters that we've had and the memories that we've shared, I would. But just thank you. Thank you to every single person. When I got transferred to the football club and played my first game against Chelsea, we lost 3-0. It wasn't a great day, but there was only one fan base singing that day, knowing full well what the score was, knowing full well what the result was. They were there supporting each and every one of us from the first minute to the last minute, and that for me is a testament to the football club, is a testament to the fans and what they're about, that literally through thick and thin, they're there for you, and I think that is an incredible memory that will stick by me for the rest of my life.

"Winning the FA Cup, winning the Community Shield, but definitely the FA Cup just because I don't even see it as an achievement for myself. It is exactly what every single fan deserves to come to every single game, to support this team on the road, at home, no matter the weather, no matter the circumstances. I think every single fan deserves that and I'm so happy to have been a part of that. I'm so happy that the fans got to experience that because it's an unbelievable joy and they deserve nothing but that. No amount of words I say here today can encapsulate how much you guys mean to me. I'm going to try not to get emotional but the word family comes to mind and when I think of family I think of people sticking by each other. I think of the tough times when this football club was battling relegation.

"I think of the games that we've lost. I think of the highs and it didn't matter what moment or what season we were in as a team. The fans were always supportive. The fans were always there having my back, having the team's back and not just as a player but as a person, you can't ask for anything more. And so I just want to say a big thank you. Like I said, these words aren't enough to show how much you guys mean to me and my appreciation. And so I've played for this football club, and so I've played in front of you, and for you guys to allow me to grow and to be the person I am today. But a big thank you. Thank you so much for everything you guys have done for me, for the opportunity to play in the Premier League, for the opportunity to captain the football club, for the opportunity for just a normal kid to realize their dream. Thank you. "