Manchester City are planning to formally request an exemption from the English Football League (EFL) to allow Marc Guéhi to participate in the upcoming Carabao Cup final, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed. The move comes amid uncertainty about Guéhi’s eligibility, following his recent transfer to City during the January transfer window.
Guéhi, a central defender, joined Manchester City from Crystal Palace, but his earlier appearances in the Carabao Cup this season with his former club have placed him in a potentially ‘cup-tied’ status. Under usual EFL regulations, a player who features in the Carabao Cup for one team cannot represent another club in the same competition during the same season. That rule would ordinarily render Guéhi ineligible for the final, scheduled for later this month.
However, Guardiola indicated in a recent press conference that the club intends to lodge an appeal with the EFL in hopes of overturning the restriction in Guéhi’s specific case. No formal comment has yet been made by the EFL regarding the request. The regulations have rarely been bent in the past, although clubs are allowed to appeal under certain circumstances.
Guardiola expressed his admiration for Guéhi’s integration into the City squad, saying that the defender has trained well since arriving at the Etihad and has the potential to play a significant role in the team’s defensive structure. City are seeking their ninth EFL Cup title and their first since the 2020–21 season.
If granted, the appeal would allow Guardiola to select Guéhi for the final at Wembley, bolstering City’s options at the back. The club is currently managing injuries among its central defenders, making the potential inclusion of Guéhi particularly significant.
As of now, it remains unclear when the EFL will make a decision on City’s request. The governing body typically reviews eligibility appeals in the lead-up to critical fixtures, meaning a ruling could be expected in the days ahead of the final.
