John Stones has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
The England international joined City from Everton for £47.5million in 2016, becoming Pep Guardiola’s second signing, and has been a bedrock of their subsequent success, winning 16 major trophies – six Premier Leagues, one Champions League, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.
He has made 293 appearances for City, scoring 19 goals but has suffered from persistent injuries over the past couple of seasons.
Stones made the announcement on his Instagram page with a video accompanying a message that read: “They say all good things must come to an end… but this thing we have had has been the greatest and it will remain a part of me forever.”
I arrived at City as a kid and will leave as a man – Stones
The 31-year-old’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season and he admitted it was a wrench to leave.
“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,” he said.
“I came as a kid and now leaving as a man becoming a father, a husband and on the pitch a very fulfilled player in living all of my dreams out and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve. At the start of my career I never would have thought I’d be in this position – first to achieve everything but to have and love the bond with everyone.
“Every dream has been smashed out of the park. From day one, as soon as I came I felt at home and I felt loved. I can only relate it to me as a little kid. If you’d said to me that I’d be playing at City, winning everything, the fans are singing your name and your song throughout the stadium to wherever you go in the world, I don’t think I would have believed them.
“The fans mean everything to me. I hope I’ve made them proud, I hope that they can relate to me as a person and as a player with how I’ve played, how I’ve represented the club and will do for the rest of my life.
“All the setbacks that you have and the good things that you have came into light in that [Champions League final] game or after that game, it made it worthwhile what you have to go through that people don’t necessarily see and to celebrate and do it in the fashion that we did with all my family and friends was incredible.”
Stones reserves special praise for City boss Guardiola
Stones has been used sparingly by Guardiola this season but still retains enormous affection for the Catalan, adding: “The manager, how I could describe this 10 years with him? I don’t think it would have been anywhere near as successful without him. The first time that I met him, I left and knew that it was what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be playing under the best manager in the world.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to spend so long with him, win everything with him and share and have so many incredible moments together. I feel very lucky and grateful for what he’s done for me. I’ve got endless memories with everyone and ones that I’ll cherish forever.
“I’ve been so lucky to be in every dressing room with incredible people and I’m so glad I’ve been able to do it with all of them. It will always be my home and I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart. This is my team forever and always will be and I don’t have the words to say what I feel and how much I love everything about it.”
World Cup remains a target for Stones
Stones played the full 90 minutes as City beat Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, a useful reminder to England boss Thomas Tuchel of his talents.
Despite his lack of action for City, Tuchel named the former Barnsley man in his squad for the most recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, although the central defender had to pull out due to a minor calf problem.
Stones played in all four of England’s games in October and November and made a positive impression on Tuchel but the German has insisted previously that every player needs to be 100% fit come the summer.
Speaking ahead of the Japan game last month, he said: “It’s not ideal for John and for us. John was gutted he had this minor incident, not a big injury. Given the history we had to be careful, it made no sense to push him through and try stuff that could make it worse.
“He has a lot of credit with me in the bank, he is a key player for us as a starter or a substitute. His quality, his mentality and the personality, how he is, he is a big part of my plans still. Like everyone he has to be fit, there is no big exception for that. Let’s wait how it plays out.”
