John Stones has completed a move to Inter Milan, marking a significant step in his career after a decade-long tenure at Manchester City. The defender, who was one of the first signings of Pep Guardiola’s managerial era, leaves the English club following a period of considerable success that included six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups, and a UEFA Champions League trophy.
Stones signed a two-year contract with Inter Milan, the Italian Serie A champions, who were also his opponents during the Champions League final where he secured his first European triumph. The move fulfills a long-held ambition to play football abroad, which Stones described as a “new chapter” and a “new journey.”
“I feel a lot of emotions,” Stones said. “An overwhelming feeling of happiness and pride. Excitement to start this new chapter, this new journey, and what a place to do it. Definitely moving abroad is something that I always wanted to do. When this opportunity came up, I spoke with my family and we didn’t hesitate to come here.”
Although Stones attracted interest from various clubs across Europe and the Premier League, the opportunity to join the Italian champions was a decisive factor. The 32-year-old will reunite with former City teammate Manuel Akanji, who also signed for Inter, and work under assistant coach Aleksandar Kolarov, another ex-City player.
Expressing his motivation, Stones emphasized his desire to continue winning and contributing to the team’s success. “I’m someone who’s hungry to win again,” he said. “That’s first and foremost. I’ve been fortunate to have won so many things, and I want to bring that experience here and help the team. And keep learning and growing as a player under the manager and also Kola, the assistant, who was a teammate of mine at City. I’m excited and hopefully I can bring all my attributes. I’m open to learning new things and a new way of football.”
Stones arrives at Inter following his recent participation with England at the World Cup, where the national team secured a third-place finish. While the bronze medal was not the ultimate goal, Stones acknowledged the team's accomplishment, calling it a historic achievement. “It’s something that I was really proud of, getting the bronze medal. It’s not what we went there for, but we made some more history and I’m really proud,” he said.
His move to Inter Milan represents a new phase in Stones’ career, as he aims to leverage his extensive experience and continue competing at the highest level in one of Europe’s top leagues.