Football Dreams: The Academy follows a group of eight-to-18-year-olds at club’s Academy. The series shows a range of real and raw stories of a cast of boys and their families, from a variety of backgrounds, who all dream of making the Crystal Palace first-team.

Football Dreams: The Academy

## World Cup winner

> Having made more than 100 appearances for Crystal Palace and now a regular captain of the side, Marc Guéhi has matured well beyond his years since moving to south London.

He joined Palace in summer 2021, signing a five-year contract with the club, and committing his services until summer 2026.

Guéhi was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and moved to England aged one. He spent much of his early years in Lewisham and began his youth career with Bromley-based Cray Wanderers.

It didn’t take long for Guéhi to attract attention and, aged just seven, he was scouted by Chelsea.

Progressing over the following decade with the Blues, Guéhi did enough to stay at the club year on year and reaped the rewards with an immensely successful peer group.

Winning the treble with the Blues’ Under-18s in 2016/17, Guéhi signed his first professional contract in September 2017 and went on to help Chelsea scoop the quadruple – including the FA Youth Cup and league – that same season.

Guéhi’s Academy team helped to reinforce Chelsea’s image as one of the fiercest youth sides in England, as the centre-back played alongside the likes of Reece James, Tariq Lamptey, Billy Gilmour, Conor Gallagher and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

But it wasn’t just at club level where Guéhi enjoyed success with a noteworthy youth team, as the teenager won the Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017. Indeed, Guéhi captained the Young Lions to the U17 European Championship final that same year and scored in the World Cup final just months later.

These performances ensured Guéhi was rewarded with a taste of first-team football, and he began to be named in Chelsea squads in spring 2019 – being a senior substitute on four occasions in 18/19.

His breakthrough came in the League Cup against Grimsby Town as the Blues stormed to a 7-1 victory with Guéhi in the backline. He again earned professional minutes for Chelsea in a fourth-round defeat against Manchester United, and secured a loan move to Swansea City shortly after.

Guéhi fought to secure his place over a half-season with the Swans that was disrupted by the league’s suspension in March. Having returned from the pause, Guéhi played in Swansea’s final five matches and helped to clinch a sixth-place finish.

Play-off heartbreak came for the first of two times as Swansea lost on aggregate to Brentford in the semi-finals, but Guéhi went on to enjoy personal progression the following season regardless.

2020/21 was something of a landmark for the defender, who returned to Swansea on loan for a full campaign and played 45 games. He became recognised as one of the league’s brightest talents and helped Swansea climb further up the table with a fourth-place finish.

Swansea and Guéhi continued to go one better than 19/20 by reaching the play-off final, but football showed its unforgiving side once again as Brentford overcame them for a second time. Guéhi played in every minute of the three play-off matches.

Guéhi describes himself as “strong, comfortable on the ball and hopefully growing to be a leader one day.”

These traits are evident in his play, with the 21-year-old having captained England Under-21s and made himself a mainstay for Swansea despite being one of the squad’s youngest players.

His attitude became clear when a post-match interview with him went viral across social media. Having earned a spot at Wembley and consecutive Man of the Match awards from Sky Sports, Guéhi humbly rebuked the accolades by saying: “The first time I was really surprised. Now I think it’s getting a bit ridiculous! Everyone was fantastic today, to a man. I could name everyone. For me to get this again, I don’t know.”

On the pitch, Guéhi is assertive and vocal, often heard organising his teammates with confidence. This confidence is reflected in his willingness to drive out from the back and distribute possession from relatively high up the pitch.

His first season in south London saw him feature in all but two of the games in 2021/22, making 42 appearances in total. His first goal for the club came in a chaotic 3-3 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor. Guéhi captained the side for the first time against Watford in February 2022, becoming the youngest player to captain the side since Nathaniel Clyne in 2012.

A month later, he earned his first ever call-up to the full England squad and made his debut in a 2-1 win against Switzerland.

Guéhi continued to be a rock at the heart of the Palace defence in 2022/23, forming a formidable partnership with Joachim Andersen. He was nearly ever-present in 22/23, playing in 40 out of a possible 41 games.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Guéhi again continue as a stalwart at the back, though in the latter half of the season he did suffer a knee injury which kept him out for two months. He concluded 23/24 with 29 appearances in all competitions.

He was called up to the England men's senior squad ahead of the 2024 UEFA European Championship and earned his 10th cap for the Three Lions with a solid defensive display and clean sheet against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024.

Guéhi played a huge role at the heart of the England defence in the 2024 UEFA European Championship, playing every single minute he was eligible for as England finished runners-up in the tournament. He managed to to keep two clean sheets and register an assist for Jude Bellingham's sensational last-minute overhead kick against Slovakia in the round of 16.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship, 2017

Team of the Tournament

March 2022, March 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Crystal Palace, 2021/22

Players' Player of the Season

Guéhi

Appearances

Goals

Best of Marc Guehi | 23/24 Season

24/25 Home Kit photo shoot | Behind The Scenes 

Crystal Palace FC 24/25 Home Kit | 100 Years of Selhurst Park

Guéhi chats about his experience in the England Camp

Guehi on his return to the squad

PL Kicks' Recreated with Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi Interview

Guéhi reflects on the Arsenal result

Marc reflects on the team's performance

Palace players visit kids at a Croydon hospital

Marc Guehi reacts to 0-2 defeat in south London

Marc Guehi on a point at the London Stadium

A Century at Selhurst Park: 1924 - 2024 Sport Chronograph

Marc's thoughts on narrow defeat to Spurs

Marc Guehi chats after goalless draw

Season

Games

The former Barcelona defender – who joined the club last month following an impressive season on loan at Real Betis – celebrated his landmark 21st birthday last week.

Riad subsequently started, and impressed, in Palace’s 1-1 pre-season draw against Charlton Athletic in South London. He could do so again when the Eagles face Crawley at Broadfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon (12:30 BST) – [**LIVE on Palace TV+**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/)**.**

Oliver Glasner’s Eagles will then [head to the United States](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-return-united-states-2024-pre-season-tour/) for matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Maryland and West Ham United in Tampa, with the new Premier League season now just three weeks away.

“I am delighted to be here,” [Riad told ](https://www.wfla.com/tampa-hoy/deportes/mi-sueno-chadi-riad-promesa-del-futbol-europeo-se-embarca-con-su-club-el-crystal-palace-a-una-gira-de-pretemporada-por-eeuu/)[TampaHoy.com](http://TampaHoy.com). “My dream as a child has always been to play in the Premier League, which I think is currently one of the best leagues in the world, so when the offer came to me I didn't think twice.

“The biggest difference for me is the climate! But other than that, I feel very comfortable. My teammates have welcomed me very well from the beginning and helped me with everything I needed. The people here are very nice.

“The truth is that it is a pleasure to be here, and I feel very comfortable.”

It is early days for Riad in a Palace shirt, but the defender believes he has already benefitted from working with manager Glasner, saying: “From day one, with a coach of his quality, you learn things.

“He is always on it. He is a very demanding coach who helps you a lot and makes you learn from everything that happens in training, in games, and I am very happy to be under his leadership.”

Riad is eagerly anticipating the challenge awaiting him in the Premier League, where he expects to come up against some of the greatest forwards in the world.

“In the Premier League there are many quality strikers,” he noted. “I think that, because it is a very strong league, the best in the world, all the teams have great quality strikers.

“But I, and everyone else who comes here to play in the Premier League, want to play against \[Erling\] Haaland, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus… all the types of strikers that you see so much about on TV. I want to play against them and give them a good game.”

Next week’s trip to the USA will not be the first for Riad, who recalled: “ I was with Betis last pre-season. I was in San Francisco and I thought it was a pretty cool country that has a lot to visit. I really liked being there.

“A country like the United States, a place like Tampa… I am excited, I want to get to know it. I have not had the pleasure of being there yet, but I want to see everything it has, its people, its values, its cultures.

“As for the heat, for me that does not matter because I come from places like Morocco and Spain where the temperatures are high, so I have no problem with it!”

As for facing Wolves and West Ham, Riad’s message to Palace’s American fanbase was clear: “When you hear the name of these three great teams, the last thing you want is to miss this kind of game.

“I encourage you to come see a good show, good football, and we will give one hundred percent of ourselves and try to win!”

[**Click here to find out more about Palace's upcoming tour to Maryland and Tampa.**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-return-united-states-2024-pre-season-tour/)

Chadi Riad has enjoyed a warm welcome to South London from teammates and supporters alike, according to the man himself.

Riad's thoughts on life in South London & hopes for USA tour

Charlton Athletic

Other Club Friendlies

Crystal Palace

Last Match

Crawley Town

Next Match

2024/25 Home Kit 

Oliver Glasner’s side are preparing to head to the United States to take on Wolves and West Ham in Annapolis and Tampa, but have a final chance to get minutes in the legs at Broadfield Stadium.

- [Find out how to watch Palace v Crawley LIVE](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/information/watch-2024-2025-pre-season-fixtures-live-on-demand-palace-tv-plus/)
- [Buy tickets to see Crystal Palace in the United States](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-return-united-states-2024-pre-season-tour/)

Crawley will be no easy opposition, however, with momentum behind them heading into a big season…

### **The opposition**

For only the second time in Crawley’s history, promotion to the third tier of English football has been achieved, and this time they are hoping to make their stay a prolonged one.

They were certainly not favourites to go up at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, having survived by the skin of their teeth the previous season, with a victory over Hartlepool United in the run-in enough to keep them up when defeat would surely have spelled a return to the Conference and the loss of their Football League status.

Under Scott Lindsey, they made smart additions to the side, most notably Danilo Orsi from Grimsby Town. Orsi, who had never been a prolific scorer at that level and had netted just twice the previous season, scored 25 times in his debut campaign for the Red Devils as they clinched the final play-off place on the final day of the season.

MK Dons were swatted aside in the play-off semi-finals, helped by an Orsi hat-trick in Milton Keynes, to set up a final against Crewe Alexandra at Wembley.

Who was on the scoresheet on the big day? You guessed it. Crawley were promoted with a comfortable victory.

The move up to League One will be a major step up, however, and their prolific centre-forward has signed for Burton Albion, meaning reinforcements could be needed. No fewer than 12 new arrivals have signed already, with more to follow.

### **The boss**

Scott Lindsey has worked his way up the divisions, beginning his managerial career with Chatham Town in the Isthmian League, before moving to Swindon in 2022. He was just eight months into his new job before Crawley moved to appoint him as their new boss.

### **Last meeting**

Just over a year ago, Palace made the same trip down to Broadfield to take on Crawley, and put on an attacking masterclass.

The Eagles scored four goals inside 24 minutes, with Jean-Philippe Mateta netting a brace to give signs of what was to come as he embarked on the most prolific campaign of his career.

Match Highlights: Crawley Town 0-4 Crystal Palace

### **MATCH DETAILS**

- Crawley v Crystal Palace
- Saturday, 27th July
- 12:30 BST
- Broadfield Stadium

### **Palace TV+**

With an exciting programme of matches ahead of Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace, make sure you subscribe to Palace TV+ to watch every minute of our remaining pre-season fixtures, both home and away, from just £19.99.

With Palace TV+, you'll also be able to watch Palace take on Crawley Town, before travelling to the United States to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United in the Stateside Cup, returning for a pre-season finale against Nantes at Selhurst Park.

Choose from a Palace TV+ pre-season bundle for just £19.99 for access to each of these matches live and on-demand (the full 90 minutes), wherever you are in the world^, until Wednesday 14th August 2024. The pre-season bundle pass is a one-off payment that does not auto-renew.

[Click HERE to find out more](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/).

Crystal Palace’s preparations for the beginning of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign continue on Saturday (12:30 BST), as the Eagles take on Crawley Town in a pre-season friendly LIVE on Palace TV+.

Preview: Palace take on Crawley in pre-season friendly

Crawley Town v Crystal Palace (2024-07-27)

The Eagles will continue their pre-season programme against League One opposition in [**Crawley at Broadfield Stadium**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-take-on-crawley-town-pre-season-friendly/) on Saturday afternoon (12:30 BST kick-off).

[**With Palace TV+**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/), you'll be able to watch this game LIVE, as well as Palace's matches in the United States against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United in the Stateside Cup, and our pre-season finale against Nantes at Selhurst Park. 

[**Find out more about Palace TV+ here**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/information/watch-2024-2025-pre-season-fixtures-live-on-demand-palace-tv-plus/)**.**

**We encourage all Palace TV+ subscribers to please test their accounts in advance of the match by following the instructions below.**

### Test your subscription

**If you believe you have purchased an eligible Palace TV+ pass for pre-season, or should have access through your Palace Membership, please try watching the video below.**

*Please allow up to 15 minutes after purchase for you to gain access to the video. If you still can’t access it, it could be possible that you are logged in with the wrong email address, so please check this.*

If you are a Palace TV+ subscriber or eligible Member logged into the correct account, and you cannot access the video, please email [**boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk**](mailto:boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk) and we will investigate as soon as we are able. Thank you for your support.

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Aston Villa | PalaceTV+

If you believe you have purchased an eligible Palace TV+ pass for pre-season, or should have access through your Palace Membership, please try watching the video below.

First-team

First-team

Riad's thoughts on life in South London & hopes for USA tour

Preview: Palace take on Crawley in pre-season friendly

Test your Palace TV+ subscription here!

2024/25 Home Kit

Latest Videos

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic | Palace TV+

Pre-season Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Palace Academy welcomes 13 new scholars

Kamada's First Training Session

Exclusive Q&A with Kamada

The Team Sends Their Luck to England's Lions!

6Marc
Guéhi

First-team

First-team

Riad's thoughts on life in South London & hopes for USA tour

Preview: Palace take on Crawley in pre-season friendly

Test your Palace TV+ subscription here!

2024/25 Home Kit

Latest Videos

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic | Palace TV+

Pre-season Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Palace Academy welcomes 13 new scholars

Kamada's First Training Session

Exclusive Q&A with Kamada

The Team Sends Their Luck to England's Lions!

6MarcGuéhi

6Marc
Guéhi