2025-09-02 15:01:03

Marc Guehi’s farewell video at Crystal Palace was leaked online after his proposed deadline-day transfer to Liverpool collapsed at the last moment.

Liverpool had agreed a £35 million deal for the player with Crystal Palace for the England international, and the defender even completed a medical in London.

A deal sheet was submitted to extend the window, but within the hour the move broke down after Palace failed to secure a replacement.

Guehi’s goodbye video started in black and white and played interview clips and highlights from the moment he signed from Chelsea.

It ended with him celebrating Palace’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City – which he captained them to – before fading to the message: “Thank you skip.”

Palace had attempted to bring in Igor Julio from Brighton as cover, but West Ham United stepped in to sign the Brazilian.

Without a replacement, Palace cancelled the deal with Liverpool.

Manager Oliver Glasner was understood to have threatened to resign if the club sanctioned Guehi’s departure.

Palace sources confirmed the manager was prepared to walk away had the transfer gone through.

Guehi has less than 12 months left on his contract, which leaves Palace facing the risk of losing their captain for nothing.

From January he can sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the situation.

Reports in May stated Guehi was prepared to run down his contract to secure a move to Spain. Newcastle United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have all expressed interest, but the player has privately told associates that a free transfer to La Liga remains his preferred option.

Guehi, born in the Ivory Coast, recently renewed his Ivorian passport, making him more attractive to Spanish clubs.

Under the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, African nationals are considered equivalent to Spanish players for registration purposes.

Since Brexit, British footballers are classed as non-EU players in Spain, with Jude Bellingham applying for an Irish passport to help secure his move to Real Madrid.

Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea in 2020 for an initial £18 million.

The club has long accepted that their policy allows for selling young players at the right price, though they had hoped to cash in this summer rather than risk losing their captain on a free transfer.

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