Carabao Cup final LIVE: Why Man City’s 25 million defender is blocked from the final?
Marc Guehi, who, despite his fitness and strong performance since joining for £25 million, is ineligible to play. EFL rules state players must be registered before the semi-final's first leg.
Last Updated: 09.36 PM, Mar 22, 2026
As Manchester City and Arsenal get ready to face each other at Wembley for the season's first major silverware, Pep Guardiola faces a self-inflicted defensive headache. Despite being fully fit and a mainstay in City’s Premier League XI, Marc Guehi has been forced to watch the final from the stands.
Here is why Guehi is ineligible
Marc Guehi’s move from Crystal Palace to Manchester City was one of the steals of the January window at £25 million.
While he has been a "plug-and-play" success in the league, the Carabao Cup rules operate on a different timeline.
Under EFL rules updated for the 2025–26 season, a player must be registered with their club before the first leg of the semi-finals to be eligible for the final. City played the first leg of their semi-final against Newcastle on 14th January, which they won 2-0.
Guehi signed for the club just three days later, which makes him ineligible for the final.
"It’s difficult to understand... we make a big investment for a player who belongs to us. I don't understand why he cannot play the final," Pep Guardiola told the press on Guehi's case.
Why can Semenyo play the final?
Interestingly, fellow January signing Antonie Semenyo is allowed to play the Carabao Cup 2026 final.
Although Semenyo played in the second round for Bournemouth, his transfer to City was finalised well before the semi-final deadline, allowing him to feature against Newcastle and, subsequently, against Arsenal today.
How to watch the Carabao Cup 2026 final online?
Football fans in India can watch the Carabao Cup 2026 final on FanCode, accessible via OTTplay Premium.