Key Takeaways
- John Stones will leave Manchester City when his contract expires this summer as a free agent
- The England centre-back has suffered from injury problems and started only four Premier League matches this season
- He won 19 trophies during his decade at the club, including the Champions League and six league titles
John Stones has announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the current campaign. The England international will depart the Etihad Stadium as a free agent when his contract finishes this summer.
Stones follows his teammate Bernardo Silva through the exit door. Both players will say goodbye to the club after many successful years in Manchester.
This season has been challenging for the 31-year-old defender. Injuries have kept him away from the pitch for long periods. He has managed only four starts in the Premier League during this campaign.
The centre-back joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016. Manager Pep Guardiola signed him for £47.5 million. He was the Spanish coach’s second signing at the club. Over the past decade, Stones has collected 19 major trophies. These include six Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups and five Carabao Cups. He was also a key member of the treble-winning squad in 2023.
Stones shared a message on social media to confirm his departure. He stated that the club has been his home for ten years. He explained that he arrived as a young player and now leaves as a man and a father. He added that he has achieved all his dreams at the Etihad.
Recently, Guardiola gave Stones the captain’s armband for the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. The manager praised the defender before the match. He explained that Stones was his first signing and vital to the team’s success on and off the pitch.
Several other stars left City last summer. These include Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Ederson. Now Stones and Silva will join the growing list of departing legends at the club.