Crystal Palace set to lose leader who helped the Eagles seal FA Cup win

Last Updated on 16 January 2026

Crystal Palace’s fairy-tale run to FA Cup glory only months ago proved this squad wasn’t just a good story. It was a proper team, built on big characters and bigger moments. And now, that winning core is starting to get picked apart.

Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. Reports suggest the move is in the final stages as Pep Guardiola looks to patch up an injury-hit defence.

But Guehi may not be the only piece of that trophy-winning jigsaw heading for the exit. Because behind the scenes at Selhurst Park, another figure who helped drive Palace to their historic FA Cup success is also set to walk away at the end of the season.

Oliver Glasner set to leave Crystal Palace in huge blow to the Eagles

Crystal Palace are bracing themselves for a seismic summer, with Oliver Glasner confirming he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.

It’s a massive blow for a side that finally climbed their long-awaited mountain in May 2025, when Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to lift the FA Cup.

It was the first major trophy in the club’s history. And while players like Eberechi Eze and Guehi earned the headlines, Glasner’s impact has been just as crucial. He gave Palace belief, structure, and an identity strong enough to carry them through to silverware.

What makes this sting more is the timing. Glasner revealed he made the decision back in October, following a private conversation with chairman Steve Parish. And if Guehi also goes to City, it’s not just a rebuild, it’s the spine of a cup-winning side being ripped out in real time.

What the double loss of Marc Guehi and Oliver Glasner means for Crystal Palace?

For Crystal Palace, losing Marc Guehi and Oliver Glasner in the same window isn’t just “two big names” leaving. It’s the potential removal of the team’s spine.

Guehi has been the captain, organiser and tone-setter at the back while Glasner has been the architect who gave Palace the tactical identity and belief that powered them to FA Cup glory.

With City now close to a deal for Guehi, as per Sky Sports, and Glasner already confirming his summer exit, the fear is obvious: Palace’s best times might already be over.

In the Premier League, they’re 13th. They sit four points off the European places, a season that’s been solid in spells but still looks mediocre at best when measured against what last year’s cup win promised.

In Europe, Palace finished outside the automatic qualification places in the UEFA Conference League league phase. That means they will have to win their knockout phase play-offs against Zrinjski Mostar, rather than cruising straight into the last 16.