John Stones has two months left on his contract with Manchester City and the Premier League club have now confirmed he will not sign a new contract.
John Stones will become a free agent this summer (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Manchester City have announced that John Stones will leave the club at the end of the season. Stones, 31, will end a trophy-laden 10-year stint at Etihad Airways.
The centre-half joined City from Everton for £47.5 million in August 2016, the same summer that Josep Guardiola was appointed, making him the second-most expensive defender in football history. Stones made 292 appearances for City, winning the Premier League six times and being an integral part of their Treble success.
Stones’ ball-playing ability was crucial to the team’s 2023 feat, as they became the second English team in history to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in a single campaign. The England international captained City to this season’s FA Cup final on Saturday, but will look for pastures new next month.
The Stones announced the news in a post on Instagram. “They say all good things come to an end…but this thing we experienced was the best and it will forever be a part of me,” he wrote.
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A statement from City added: “John Stones will leave Manchester City in the summer, bringing an end to a memorable and highly successful 10-year stay at the Etihad. The English central defender joined City in 2016, Guardiola’s second signing, and Stones has made 293 appearances in 10 incredible years to date.”
“There is no doubting the 31-year-old’s huge contribution during one of the most sustained and successful periods in the club’s history.”
Stones has seen reduced playing time this season due to injuries and new additions to the backline. Marc Gehi and Abdukkodir Kusanov (both signed in the last 18 months) form a partnership in the heart of defence, with talisman Ruben Dias yet to return.
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John Stones won 19 major trophies with Manchester City (Image: Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)
Stones is the second Treble winner to leave City this summer, with Bernardo Silva’s departure also confirmed. The latter remains a regular starter, but both will be hoping for a strong showing as the Manchester side aim for another domestic treble.
Bernardo and Stones were part of the City squad that won the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in 2019, making them the first team in English men’s football history to win the title. City have already won this season’s Carabao Cup, but they still have a chance of winning the other two competitions.
City will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final, while also battling for the league title with Arsenal.
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