John Stones has completed a transfer to Inter Milan, marking a significant move abroad after a highly successful decade with Manchester City. The 32-year-old defender, who was the second signing of the Pep Guardiola era at City, joined the Italian club on a two-year contract this summer, joining a number of former teammates and colleagues at San Siro.
During his time at Manchester City, Stones was part of a highly decorated squad, contributing to winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups, and the UEFA Champions League. His final involvement with City came against Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final, the very club he now represents.
Stones expressed a mixture of pride, excitement, and fulfillment at the move, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in his career. Playing abroad had long been an ambition for Stones, and when the opportunity to join Italy’s reigning champions arose, he discussed it with his family and decided to embrace the challenge without hesitation. Despite interest from other Premier League clubs and European teams, the allure of joining Inter Milan proved decisive.
At Inter, Stones will reunite with former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, who also plays in defence, and work with assistant coach Aleksandar Kolarov, another ex-City player. The club’s head coach, Cristian Chivu, will oversee Stones’ development in Italy’s top flight. Stones has voiced a strong desire to continue winning silverware and contributing his extensive experience to the team, while remaining open to adopting new styles and methods of play.
Stones arrives fresh from an international summer, having helped England secure their best World Cup finish on foreign soil with a third-place bronze medal. Although the team fell short of their ultimate goal, Stones said he was proud of the historic achievement.
The transfer to Inter Milan represents a fresh opportunity for Stones to build on his decorated career and demonstrate his abilities in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.