Marc Guehi’s move brings unexpected joy for Chelsea. Chelsea did not plan to make money this January, but football can be full of surprises. The club has received an unexpected cash boost after Marc Guehi completed a move to Manchester City. Many fans believed Guehi would leave Crystal Palace for free in the summer. Because of this, Chelsea thought they would earn nothing. However, a January deal changed everything and gave the Blues a welcome financial bonus.
How Marc Guehi’s rise helped Chelsea earn extra money
Marc Guehi has grown into one of the best young defenders in England. After leaving Chelsea in 2021, he joined Crystal Palace and became an important player very quickly. He was calm on the ball, strong in defence, and showed great leadership. Soon, he was even named Palace captain.
Big clubs started to notice Marc Guehi. Liverpool wanted to sign him last summer and almost completed a £35 million deal. That move failed late on, and many people expected Guehi to wait and leave Palace for free when his contract ended. If that had happened, Chelsea would not have earned anything from the deal.
But Chelsea had made a smart decision years earlier. When they sold Marc Guehi, they added a sell-on clause to the contract. This meant Chelsea would receive a percentage of any future transfer fee. At the time, it did not seem important. Now, it looks like a very clever move.
Why Manchester City signed Marc Guehi and how Chelsea benefited
Manchester City were not planning to sign Marc Guehi in January. However, things changed after two of their defenders, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, were injured in a match against Chelsea. The city suddenly needed a new centre-back fast.
Instead of waiting for the summer, City agreed to a January deal with Crystal Palace. The transfer fee was around £20 million, with extra money added later through bonuses. Because of the sell-on clause, Chelsea are expected to receive around 20 per cent of that fee.
This means Blues could earn several million pounds without selling a player themselves. For a club managing spending rules, this extra money is helpful. Marc Guehi also spoke happily after joining City, saying he was proud to play for the best team in England and excited to learn and grow.
Fan reaction: Blues supporters share mixed feelings
Chelsea fans had different reactions to the news. Some were happy that the club earned money without effort. Others felt proud that another Chelsea academy player had reached the very top level of football. However, some supporters were also frustrated. They wondered why Chelsea let Marc Guehi leave in the first place.
On social media, many fans praised Chelsea’s transfer planning. They pointed out that sell-on clauses can be very useful in modern football. Even rival fans admitted that Chelsea had made a smart move years ago.
What this means for Blues and the Premier League
The money Chelsea receives will not change everything, but it still matters. Every extra pound helps with transfer rules and future planning. It also shows how valuable Chelsea’s academy players are.
For the Premier League, Marc Guehi joining Manchester City makes an already strong team even stronger. This could make the title race harder for other clubs. For Blues, the bigger lesson is clear: smart planning can pay off, even years later.
Conclusion: A smart decision finally pays off
Chelsea did not expect to gain from Marc Guehi this season, but football surprised them. Thanks to one smart contract clause, the club now enjoys an unexpected reward — and proof that good planning really matters.
As featured on Chelseanews.com