Manchester City sign defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £20m

 Manchester City have completed the signing of defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in a deal worth an initial £20m.

The England international arrives at the Etihad in an initial £20 million (€23m) deal. Man City have managed to sign one of the Premier League's best defenders for a bargain due to his contract situation.

Guehi only had six months to run on his deal at Crystal Palace, forcing the Selhurst Park club into a huge decision. They ultimately agreed to sell their captain instead of letting him walk away on a free.

As well as the initial fee, a percentage sell-on clause was inserted into the deal for the 25-year-old, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal until 2031 at the Etihad.

On signing for City, Guehi said: "I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player.

"This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career. I am now at the best club in England and part of an unbelievable squad of players. It feels good to be able to say that. I want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that's going to happen.

"I love football - it has given me so much for so long - and to be able to continue my development at Manchester City is a really special moment for me and my family. I absolutely cannot wait to get started now. I want to meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the manager expects of me and then show the City fans what I can do."

Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were among the clubs that had been interested in signing Guehi on a free transfer this coming summer.

Guehi becomes Pep Guardiola's second January signing after the £64m arrival of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

The ex-Chelsea defender's arrival also takes City's transfer spend in the last 12 months to £445.9m on 15 players.