John Stones will leave Manchester City this summer after a trophy-laden 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.
John Stones celebrates after Manchester City won the Champions League in 2023
John Stones celebrates after Manchester City won the Champions League in 2023(Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
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John Stones' exit from Manchester City has been confirmed after a glittering decade at the club. The 31-year-old centre-back will leave the Blues when his contract expires at the end of this season.
City head coach Pep Guardiola said last week there had been no clarity on Stones' future, but his departure has now been confirmed, bringing an end to a trophy-laden spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Stones moved to City from Everton in 2016, going on to make 292 appearances for the club. In his time at the Etihad, Stones has won six Premier League titles - a tally he will be looking to increase to seven in the coming weeks - the Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups and five Carabao Cups.
"It's been my home for the past ten years and it will be my home for the rest of my life. it's been a rollercoaster in many ways," he said in an emotional farewell. "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 signing 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 payer 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. The manager, how I could describe this ten years with him, I don't think it would have been anywhere 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."
One of Stones' most iconic performances for City came in the 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, while his goal line clearance against Liverpool proved to be the season-defining moment in the 2018/19 campaign as City went on to pip their rivals to the title.
Confirmation of Stones' departure comes shortly after captain Bernardo Silva confirming he too would be leaving the Etihad this summer. Both will get the send-off they deserve, having played key roles in the most decorated period in the club's history.