Marc Guéhi: Man City, England & World Cup Record

Marc Guéhi is an England international centre-back who plays for Manchester City. Born in Abidjan and raised in London, he developed at Chelsea, gained senior experience on loan at Swansea City and became a Premier League captain at Crystal Palace. He joined City in January 2026 and helped the club win the FA Cup before playing eight matches in England’s run to a bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

England’s official post-tournament record lists Guéhi with 37 senior caps and one goal. Manchester City’s season review records 20 appearances, two goals and one assist during his first half-season at the club. This profile uses official competition, club and national-team sources and removes unverified salary and net-worth estimates.

Marc Guéhi profile and key facts

Current club, number and Manchester City contract

Manchester City signed Guéhi from Crystal Palace on 19 January 2026. His five-and-a-half-year agreement runs until summer 2031, and he wears number 15. The move came during an injury-heavy period for City’s defence, so he was recruited to contribute immediately rather than spend months adapting outside the starting side.

Guéhi made his City debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 24 January and helped secure a 2-0 win and clean sheet. Premier League analysis recorded 95 completed passes from 102 attempts, plus two interceptions and two blocks. The performance showed why his calm distribution and positional discipline suited City’s build-up structure.

Across his first six months at City, the club recorded 20 appearances, two goals, one assist and 1,690 minutes. He formed a regular partnership with Abdukodir Khusanov and started the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. His contract and early workload make him a long-term defensive investment, not a short-term cover signing.

Early life, family move and grassroots football

Guéhi was born in Abidjan on 13 July 2000 and moved to London with his family when he was one. England’s player profile lists Cray Wanderers as his grassroots club. Chelsea recruited him into their academy at six, beginning an association that lasted through his youth development and first professional appearances.

Growing up in Chelsea’s system gave Guéhi a technical education as well as defensive training. He learned to receive the ball under pressure, pass through midfield lines and defend with space behind him. Those qualities later became central to his roles with Swansea, Palace, England and Manchester City.

Chelsea academy and England youth success

Guéhi won major youth honours with Chelsea, including successive FA Youth Cups in 2016/17 and 2017/18. He made his senior debut in 2019 in the League Cup and appeared twice for Chelsea’s first team before going out on loan.

His England youth career was even more prominent. Guéhi captained the under-17 team at the 2017 European Championship, where England reached the final, and then helped the Young Lions win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. He scored in the 5-2 final victory over Spain. He later represented England at under-19 and under-20 level and captained the under-21 side.

The youth record matters because leadership was present long before his Palace captaincy. Guéhi was trusted to organise teams and handle tournament football as a teenager, experience that later helped him move smoothly into senior international competition.

Swansea City loan and senior development

Chelsea loaned Guéhi to Swansea City in January 2020. He remained there for roughly 18 months and made 59 appearances, playing in two Championship play-off campaigns. Swansea reached the 2021 play-off final before losing to Brentford.

The loan supplied the competitive repetition he could not get behind senior defenders at Chelsea. Championship forwards tested his physical defending, while Swansea’s possession style required him to begin attacks rather than only clear danger. By the end of the spell, he had enough senior evidence for a permanent Premier League opportunity.

Crystal Palace career and captaincy

Crystal Palace signed Guéhi in July 2021. He became a first-choice defender immediately and first wore the captain’s armband in 2022, becoming Palace’s youngest captain in a decade. He was installed as the regular club captain for 2024/25.

Guéhi could play on either side of central defence and in both a back three and back four. His Palace years developed the balance that defines his game: he is comfortable stepping forward with possession but rarely abandons the defensive line without cover. He also became more influential at set pieces and as a progressive passer.

By the time he left for Manchester City, official City reporting credited him with 188 Palace appearances in all competitions, 11 goals and eight assists. That body of work included survival campaigns, a European qualification push and the most successful trophy period in the club’s history.

Crystal Palace FA Cup and Community Shield wins

Guéhi captained Palace to the 2025 FA Cup. The Eagles beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to secure the first major trophy in the club’s history. For a defender who had already impressed during England’s EURO 2024 run, leading his club through a winning final established him as more than a promising centre-back.

Palace returned to Wembley in August 2025 for the FA Community Shield against Liverpool. The match finished 2-2 before Palace won the penalty shootout 3-2. Guéhi therefore left Selhurst Park having captained the club through two national trophy wins in less than a year.

First six months at Manchester City

Guéhi’s City role expanded quickly after his January arrival. He scored his first goal for the club against Salford City in the FA Cup and later scored at Chelsea in the Premier League. City’s season review praised his composure, reading of the game and ability to settle alongside Khusanov while other central defenders were unavailable.

He was cup-tied for City’s Carabao Cup final victory, so that match is not listed here as one of his playing achievements. He was eligible for the FA Cup and started the 1-0 final win over Chelsea on 16 May. Guéhi helped City build from the back and created a first-half chance for Erling Haaland with a pass behind the defence. The result gave him consecutive FA Cups with two different clubs.

England debut and EURO 2024

Guéhi made his senior England debut against Switzerland on 26 March 2022. His first major senior tournament was UEFA EURO 2024, where he started the opening win over Serbia and made six appearances as England reached the final.

He missed the quarter-final through suspension after collecting two yellow cards but returned for the semi-final and final. UEFA recorded 44 ball recoveries across the tournament, the second-highest total among all players. In the final against Spain, his late header was cleared off the line as England lost 2-1.

Guéhi scored his first senior international goal in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win away to Serbia on 9 September 2025. In March 2026, Thomas Tuchel made him England captain for the first time against Japan at Wembley. He became the 129th player to captain the men’s senior team.

Marc Guéhi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Guéhi made his World Cup debut as a late substitute in England’s 4-2 opening win over Croatia. He entered the starting XI against Ghana and remained a central part of the defence through the knockout rounds. England’s official review records eight appearances, meaning he featured in every match of the tournament.

Across those eight games, Guéhi made 27 clearances, six interceptions and two blocks. He completed 95.9 per cent of his passes, a figure that reflects both secure decision-making and England’s reliance on him to circulate possession from the back.

England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final before beating France 6-4 in the third-place play-off. The bronze medal represented the men’s team’s best World Cup finish since 1966. Guéhi finished the tournament with 37 total caps and one goal.

For related coverage, see the England team profile, World Cup Group L guide, and the repaired profiles for teammates Nico O’Reilly and Noni Madueke.

Playing style and strengths

• Positioning: he reads danger early and often resolves attacks without needing a desperate tackle.
• Progressive passing: he can break midfield lines or switch play from the left side of defence.
• Composure: he receives under pressure and keeps possession in teams that build from the goalkeeper.
• Versatility: he is comfortable in a back three or back four and on either side of the pairing.
• Leadership: he has captained England youth teams, Crystal Palace and the England senior side.

Guéhi is not unusually tall for an elite centre-back, so his defending depends on timing, body position and anticipation. His acceleration helps him protect space behind a high line, while his passing allows a coach to use him as the first stage of an attack. That combination explains why he adapted quickly to both Tuchel’s England and Guardiola’s City.

Marc Guéhi salary and net worth

Manchester City confirmed the length of Guéhi’s contract but did not publish his wage. No audited public filing establishes his personal net worth. Salary databases and wealth websites offer estimates, but they are not direct disclosures and should not be described as confirmed facts. The verified information is that his City agreement runs to summer 2031; this profile does not assign an exact weekly salary or private-wealth range.

Honours and career achievements

• FIFA World Cup bronze medal with England: 2026
• FA Cup winner with Manchester City: 2025/26
• FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace: 2024/25
• FA Community Shield winner with Crystal Palace: 2025
• UEFA European Championship runner-up with England: 2024
• FIFA U-17 World Cup winner with England: 2017
• FA Youth Cup winner with Chelsea: 2016/17 and 2017/18

Frequently asked questions

How old is Marc Guéhi?

He was born on 13 July 2000 and turned 26 in July 2026.

Which club does Marc Guéhi play for?

He plays for Manchester City, wears number 15 and is contracted until summer 2031.

How many England caps does Marc Guéhi have?

England’s current official profile lists 37 senior caps and one goal.

How many games did Marc Guéhi play at the 2026 World Cup?

He appeared in all eight England matches as the team won the bronze medal.

Did Marc Guéhi win the FA Cup with two clubs?

Yes. He captained Crystal Palace to the 2025 trophy and started Manchester City’s 2026 final victory.

Official sources

• England Football player profile and current record
• England Football 2026 World Cup review
• England Football report on Guéhi’s first senior captaincy
• England Football report on his first senior goal
• Premier League report on his Manchester City transfer and contract
• Premier League analysis of his City debut
• Crystal Palace transfer announcement
• Crystal Palace FA Cup reflection
• The FA report on Manchester City’s 2026 final win