England defender John Stones has completed a free transfer to Italian champions Inter Milan, signing a two-year contract after leaving Manchester City at the end of his deal in June.
The 32-year-old brings an end to a remarkable 10-year spell at City, where he established himself as one of the club’s most successful defenders. Reflecting on his time in Manchester, Stones said he had “lived all my dreams out” after helping the club enjoy one of the most dominant periods in its history.
During his decade at City, Stones collected an impressive list of honours, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. He made 295 appearances for the club and scored 19 goals after arriving from Everton in a £47.5 million move in 2016.
Following the expiry of his contract, Stones became one of the most sought-after free agents in European football. Several clubs, including Chelsea and Juventus, were linked with the experienced centre-back, but Inter Milan ultimately secured his signature.
The move sees Stones join the reigning Serie A champions, who claimed their 21st league title last season. Inter will begin the defence of their domestic crown against newly promoted Monza on Saturday, 22 August, with Stones expected to add experience and leadership to the club’s back line.
The former Barnsley defender also remains an important figure for England. He has earned 93 international caps and featured in the national team’s campaign at this summer’s World Cup, where England finished third. Stones started the quarter-final victory over Norway before playing in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina.
His arrival represents another significant addition for Inter as they prepare for a new season with expectations of retaining the Serie A title. For Stones, the transfer marks the start of a fresh chapter after a trophy-laden decade in English football. While he leaves Manchester City as one of the club’s most decorated defenders, he now begins a new challenge in Italy with the reigning league champions.
