John Stones: England defender joins Inter Milan on free transfer after Manchester City exit

John Stones has completed a move to Inter Milan on a two-year deal, bringing an end to his decade at Manchester City and becoming only the fourth Englishman to represent the Italian club.

Inter announced the signing on Thursday after Stones’ contract with Manchester City came to an end, allowing the 32-year-old to join the Serie A side as a free agent. His deal runs until June 2028, with the defender set to earn €4m per season.

Stones follows in the footsteps of Gerry Hitchens (1961-1962), Paul Ince (1995-1997) and Ashley Young (2020-2021) as the only English players to have played for Inter.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Italy, in comments carried by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stones said: “سعيد بوجودي هنا، اراكم قريبا”.

The move ends a long association with Manchester City, where Stones played for 10 years after joining from Everton. During that time he became a key figure in defence, featuring in 295 matches for City, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in all competitions.

Stones had recently been linked with a possible transfer to Arsenal, but Inter emerged strongly in the race for his signature and have now secured the experienced centre-back on a short-term contract.

World Cup impact

Stones heads to Serie A on the back of a prominent role with England at the 2026 World Cup.

The centre-half was part of the England squad that finished third at the tournament, helping his country secure the bronze medal with a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off.

That World Cup campaign added to an already extensive international resume for the defender, who has been a regular for England across several major tournaments.

Historic move for Inter

By joining Inter, Stones adds his name to a small group of English players who have worn the club’s colours over the decades.

Hitchens was the first, spending a single season at the club in the early 1960s, before Ince’s two-year stint in the mid-1990s. Young most recently represented Inter in the 2020-2021 season, contributing to the club’s domestic success during his spell.

Stones now becomes the latest English player to test himself in Serie A, swapping life in the Premier League and European competition with Manchester City for a fresh challenge in Italy with Inter.