**The future of John Stones at Manchester City beyond the end of the ongoing season has received a significant hint from Pep Guardiola during recent media duties.**
With Stones now into the final months of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, the England international has once again become a focal point of discussion surrounding City’s medium-term defensive planning.
The 31-year-old was a cornerstone of Pep Guardiola’s tactical system during the historic Treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, but his availability has since been hampered by repeated injury setbacks, limiting his ability to establish rhythm and continuity.
As previously reported, there has been internal caution at City regarding Stones’ future, despite admiration for his unique skill set. Guardiola himself has repeatedly highlighted Stones’ importance when fit, however the defender’s fitness record over the last two seasons has complicated matters.
John Stones’ return to England involvement under Thomas Tuchel earlier this season had been viewed as a positive indicator, prompting speculation that momentum could build towards renewed contract talks. Yet Guardiola has consistently stressed the need for patience and long-term evidence of durability, rather than short bursts of availability, before decisive action.
Speaking to reporters this week, Pep Guardiola spoke of the central defender’s ongoing situation within his squad as the England international continues to recover from long-standing injury problems.
“I think what happened in the last two seasons will be defined in a decision at the end of the season,” Guardiola responded, with Stones’ contract at the Etihad Stadium expiring after the ongoing campaign.
The Manchester City boss was further asked whether the 31-year-old is close to a return to action, to which Guardiola said, “Right now, I don’t know. I would like to know it, the answer, but I don’t know.
“He didn’t train with us, so that’s when it’s training, make training sessions. It’s not like, ‘I’m ready, now I play’. There are a few players like after one or two training sessions can play, and the other ones need a little bit longer. And John \[Stones\] is one of those cases.”
Pep Guardiola’s comments appear to reinforce earlier suggestions that John Stones’ future will be assessed holistically at the end of the campaign, factoring in both fitness reliability and on-pitch contribution.
This aligns with previous remarks from the Manchester City manager stressing a “wait and see” approach before any contractual commitment is made.
Looking ahead, Stones’ situation could hinge on how regularly he is able to feature between now and the summer, particularly in a high-intensity fixture list.
With City already reshaping elements of their defence and managing injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, the coming weeks and months may prove decisive in determining whether Stones remains part of Guardiola’s long-term plans or prepares for a new chapter beyond the club.