Inter are currently in negotiations to sign centre-back John Stones, who is available as a free agent. Discussions are ongoing, with the hope of finalising the transfer by the end of the week. This potential move would see Stones reunite with former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, who has joined Inter permanently after a loan spell in the 2025-26 season. The Italian champions have also secured Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel from Lazio this summer.
City announced in April that Stones would depart the club upon the expiration of his contract this summer, concluding a 10-year tenure. Reports at the time suggested that several prominent European clubs were interested in acquiring the defender.
Interest from across Europe
Both Inter and Juventus have entered formal negotiations with Stones’ representatives, as the competition for his signature intensifies. According to one report, the England international defender is seriously considering a move to Italy, a destination he is said to be open to as he seeks a new challenge. The opportunity to secure a player of his calibre has made him a top priority for both Serie A giants.
Italy is not the only option for Stones. Arsenal has reportedly shown interest, with manager Mikel Arteta looking for centre-back cover due to William Saliba’s back injury. Arteta’s previous role as Pep Guardiola‘s assistant at City, where he worked for three years, provided him with familiarity with Stones’ play. Chelsea has also been mentioned as monitoring the situation. With no transfer fee involved, the ultimate decision rests with Stones regarding the best fit for the next phase of his career.
Stones had a notable World Cup performance for England, contributing to the team’s run to the semi-finals. He participated in five of the eight matches, including strong defensive displays against Mexico, where he came on as a second-half substitute, and Norway, playing the full 120 minutes in the quarter-final victory. He also started the semi-final defeat against Argentina, playing almost the entire match before being replaced by Ivan Toney in injury time.
Career at Manchester City
Stones joined City from Everton in the summer of 2016. He quickly established himself in the first team and was a regular fixture during the club’s successful era under Pep Guardiola. During his 10 seasons at City, Stones made 295 appearances.
His achievements at City include:
- Six Premier League title-winning campaigns
- 2023 Champions League
- Five League Cups
- Three FA Cups
In addition to his club success, Stones has represented the England national team for 12 years, making 94 appearances since his senior debut in the summer of 2014. He has featured in three World Cups and two European Championships, with England reaching the final on both occasions in the latter tournament.
The summer tournament followed a 2025-26 season for Stones that was affected by injuries, limiting him to just 18 appearances in all competitions for City. In the prior campaign, 2024-25, he played 20 times due to foot and hamstring issues, and in October 2025, he reportedly considered retirement due to fitness problems.
Source: nytimes.com
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”