John Stones has announced he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
Stones will follow another club legend, Bernardo Silva, through the exit door this summer as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract as City prepare for another big summer of change.
The England defender’s final season at City has been hit by injuries which have restricted him to just four Premier League starts – but he leaves with a legacy of being one of Pep Guardiola’s most important signings.
Stones was the second arrival under Guardiola, joining City from Everton for £47.5m in the summer of 2016, and has enjoyed a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad.
The 31-year-old has lifted 19 major trophies at City, including six Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and was part of the treble-winning side in 2022/23.
Stones and Silva will become the latest City legends to depart after Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Ederson left last summer.
Stones: ‘I lived all my dreams’ at City
Stones lifts the Champions League trophy after beating Inter
When announcing his departure on Instagram, Stones said: “It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life.
“It has been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now leaving as a man – becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player.
“I lived all my dreams out and lifted all the things that I came here to achieve.
“At the start of my career here I never would have thought I would be in this position. Firstly, to achieve everything but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.”
Guardiola praises ‘adorable’ Stones’ influence
John Stones with match-winner Nico Gonzalez at Wembley on Saturday
Stones made his first start for more than a month at Wembley against Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final because of injury issues keeping him from playing.
Guardiola made the defender captain for the 2-1 comeback win and was full of praise for his influence at City over the last decade when speaking about him pre-match.
Explaining his decision to bring Stones back into the XI, Guardiola told TNT Sports: “Finally, he has had three weeks or a month without injuries. Unfortunately, he had a lot in these last two seasons.
“He was our first signing when I arrived here. Difficult to understand the big success that we had without him, on and off the pitch. He is just adorable and a top player.”
