Crystal Palace have made their third signing of the summer, confirming the arrival of Marc Guehi from Chelsea on a five-year deal.
The 21-year-old is the latest arrival through the door in an important summer for the Eagles.
Marc Guehi Joins Crystal Palace
Why the Arrival of Guehi is Important for Palace
Guehi will prove to be a significant arrival for Palace as they look to add to their ranks at centre-back.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Championship side Swansea City and was a significant player in their campaign, which ended in a play-off final defeat.
Guehi had initially joined Swansea on a six-month loan deal during the 2019/20 season, but after impressing manager Steve Cooper, he returned to the Liberty Stadium on a season-long loan last summer.
The Chelsea loanee was commanding during his time in South Wales. He averaged 1.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game, as the Swans had one of the meanest defences in the Championship.
Guehi could prove to be a significant signing for Palace. Although he was highly rated by Chelsea, it was unlikely that he was going to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans, paving the way for his move to South London.
Palace were also in need of a centre-back this summer. Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann and Gary Cahill were released by the club following the expiry of their contracts, although the latter is still in negotiations over a new deal.
As a result, it left just James Tomkins, Martin Kelly and Cheikhou Kouyate as the three available options at the heart of the defence.
What Was Said?
Speaking to the Crystal Palace club website, Guehi said: “I’m very excited.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to come to such a big club in the Premier League. I’m really excited to get going.
“[The club is taking] a really exciting direction with the new gaffer that’s come in. A lot of good young players are here and obviously such a stable club with top players really enticed me and made me want to come.”
Club chairman, Steve Parish, added: “We’re delighted to have signed Marc for Crystal Palace. He’s an exciting talent and one we believe will be a valuable addition to the squad as we build towards the coming season.”
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