England defender John Stones has confirmed that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, ending a decade long spell with the Premier League champions.
The 31 year old, whose contract expires this summer, joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016 in a deal worth forty seven point five million pounds and quickly elished himself as a key player under Pep Guardiola.
During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Stones became part of one of the most dominant eras in English football history, helping the club secure six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League trophy, two FA Cups, and five League Cups.
According to BBC Sport, Stones described his time at the club as a dream come true and said he had achieved everything he set out to accomplish when he first arrived in Manchester.
He said the club had become like home to him over the past ten years and expressed pride in the achievements he shared with teammates and coaches during his stay.
Stones was among the early signings of Pep Guardiola and developed into one of the most tactically flexible defenders in Europe, often playing in hybrid defensive and midfield roles that contributed to City success in multiple competitions including their Champions League triumph in 2023.
Despite his achievements, his final seasons were affected by recurring injuries which limited his playing time and reduced his appearances in recent campaigns.
Even so, he remained an experienced and respected figure in the dressing room and contributed to the team leadership during crucial moments.
His departure marks the end of an important chapter in Manchester City modern history as the club continues to refresh its squad for future challenges.
Attention will now shift to where the defender will continue his career as clubs across Europe are expected to show interest in signing the experienced international.
Stones leaves Manchester City as one of the most decorated defenders in the club history and a major part of their domestic and European success story.
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