Crystal Palace is set to lose their captain, Marc Guehi, at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The England international has informed the club that he will not be signing a new contract. This confirmation comes directly from Crystal Palace's head coach, Oliver Glasner, who stated that the club had offered Guehi an extension, but the defender declined, expressing his desire for "something different".
Guehi's contract expires on June 30, 2026, allowing him to leave Crystal Palace as a free agent. However, Crystal Palace may consider selling Guehi in the January transfer window to generate a transfer fee, rather than losing him for free at the end of the season. Sky Sports reports that Palace are unlikely to allow Guehi to leave for a cut-price deal in the winter window.
Several top European clubs have shown interest in the 25-year-old defender. Liverpool were close to securing Guehi's signature this past summer for a reported £35 million, but the deal collapsed on deadline day because Crystal Palace were unable to find a replacement in time. Other clubs reportedly interested in Guehi include Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Guehi will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January 2026, giving non-Premier League teams an advantage in securing his signature. Premier League clubs will have to wait longer to approach the player.
Since joining Crystal Palace in 2021, Guehi has made 167 appearances and has been instrumental in the team's success, including captaining the club to an FA Cup triumph in May 2025. Despite the collapsed transfer to Liverpool and his impending departure, Guehi has remained professional and continues to perform at a high level for Crystal Palace.
The departure of Guehi will be a significant loss for Crystal Palace, who will need to reassess their squad and defensive strategies. The club will also need to identify potential replacements for their captain. Crystal Palace finished the 2025/26 season against Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
According to Spotrac.com, Guehi's current contract sees him earning an average annual salary of $2,610,000. In 2025, his base salary and cap hit are both $2,600,000. By the end of his contract, Guehi will have earned $13,000,000 from his time at Crystal Palace.
