John Stones is leaving Manchester City this summer, bringing an end to a ten-year spell at the Etihad that saw him become one of Pep Guardiola’s most decorated and versatile defenders.
The 31-year-old made the announcement through an emotional Instagram video, with Manchester City confirming the news formally on their official channels. Stones joined from Everton in 2016 for £47.5 million as Guardiola’s second signing as City manager and goes out with 19 major trophies to his name, including six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League.
“It has been my home for the past ten years and it will be my home for the rest of my life,” Stones said in his farewell message. “It has been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now leaving as a man. I lived all my dreams out and lifted all the things that I came here to achieve.” Guardiola responded with visible emotion, saying before City’s FA Cup semi-final that “a part of me is leaving” with Stones, who was named as captain for the Wembley match against Southampton as a mark of respect.
Stones will leave as a free agent when his contract expires in June, with City having decided against offering an extension. His final two seasons have been severely disrupted by injuries, restricting him to just four Premier League starts this term.
That reality has shaped his exit, though it does nothing to diminish the scale of his contribution to the most successful sustained period in City’s history. He played 293 matches for the club and scored 19 goals, often operating in innovative hybrid midfield-defender roles that helped define Guardiola’s tactical evolution.
The next chapter remains uncertain. Everton have been linked with a sentimental return to Merseyside, and the club would represent a natural fit for a player who spent the formative years of his career at Goodison Park.
West Ham and several European clubs have also been mentioned. Reports suggest Stones plans to wait until after the 2026 World Cup before committing his future, which would allow him to focus entirely on England’s campaign in North America this summer. A signing bonus in excess of £15 million is expected to form part of whichever deal he eventually agrees.
Stones departs alongside Bernardo Silva, who is also leaving as a free agent, meaning City face an enormous summer rebuild. The two exits represent the end of an era for a squad that dominated English football for the better part of a decade, and Guardiola’s ability to replenish both players’ roles simultaneously will be one of the defining transfer challenges of the summer window.