Updated: 28 Apr 2026 14:09 BST |
2 min read
Manchester City have confirmed John Stones will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing an end to his trophy-laden spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Stones became Pep Guardiola’s second signing as City manager when arriving from Everton for €55million in 2016, and has gone on to play an integral part in helping the club dominate English football under the Catalan.
The 31-year-old has made 293 appearances in all competitions for the Cityzens, winning 16 trophies including the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2022-23, in what remains the greatest season in the club’s history.
However, Stones has struggled with a string of injuries in recent seasons, making just 16 appearances in 2025-26 as City look to add to their Carabao Cup triumph by winning the Premier League and FA Cup this term.
Announcing he will bring down the curtain on his 10-year spell at City in the summer, Stones said in an emotional video posted on Instagram: “What does Manchester City mean to me? It’s been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life.
“It’s been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now I’m leaving as a man and a father and a husband, and on the pitch a very fulfilled player, I suppose, in living all of my childhood dreams out and lifting all of things I came here to achieve.
“At the start of my career I would never have thought I’d be in this position. Firstly achieving everything [I wanted to] but the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.”
While Stones will look to end his spell at City on a high as Guardiola’s side contest the Premier League title race with Arsenal, with the FA Cup final also to come against Chelsea on Saturday, 16 May, the defender will hope to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup.
The former Barnsley centre-back helped the Three Lions reach FIFA’s flagship tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, featuring in the qualification victories over Latvia, Serbia and Albania.
More to follow.
