England defender John Stones is reportedly in advanced discussions with Inter Milan regarding a potential free transfer. The centre-half became a free agent at the end of June after his departure from Manchester City.
Stones has attracted considerable interest from various clubs across Europe, including Chelsea and Juventus. However, Serie A champions Inter are understood to be leading the pursuit for the 32-year-old, with positive talks held for a two-year contract.
Stones’ Career at Manchester City
Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016. During his tenure, he made 295 appearances for the club. His time at City saw him contribute to significant trophy wins, including 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.
City had announced in April that Stones would leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract. Reports at the time suggested that numerous top clubs across Europe would be interested in acquiring the defender.
Stones’ career at City spanned 10 seasons, during which he was a consistent presence in the team’s successful era under Pep Guardiola. His contributions were vital to their domestic and European triumphs.
International Career and Recent Season
The former Barnsley defender has earned 93 international caps for England. He was part of the England squad that secured a third-place finish at the World Cup.
Stones had an impressive performance at the recent World Cup, contributing to England’s progression to the semi-finals. He featured in five of the eight matches, playing a role in strong defensive displays against Mexico and Norway. He also started in the semi-final defeat against Argentina.
The summer tournament followed a season affected by injuries for Stones, who made 18 appearances across all competitions for City in the 2025-26 season. In the preceding 2024-25 campaign, he played 20 times due to foot and hamstring issues.
Stones has represented the England national team for 12 years, making 94 appearances since his senior debut in 2014. He has participated in three World Cups and two European Championships.
Inter’s Summer Signings and Other Interest
Inter are actively pursuing new additions to their squad. If the transfer is finalised, Stones would reunite with former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, who joined Inter permanently after a loan spell in 2025-26. The Italian champions have also signed Serbia international midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel from Lazio this summer.
Last season, Inter were crowned Italian champions for the 21st time under coach Cristian Chivu. They had reached the Champions League final the previous year, where they were defeated 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Interest in Stones was also reported from Arsenal, who were exploring options for centre-back cover due to William Saliba‘s back injury, and Chelsea, who were looking to strengthen their defence. However, reports suggest that a deal for Stones to join Inter is on track to be completed by the end of the week.
One report indicates that an agreement is in place for the defender to complete his move to the San Siro on a two-year deal.
Source: bbc.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
