John Stones, a cornerstone of Manchester City's decade of dominance, is set to leave the club on a free transfer and join Italian champions Inter Milan. The 32-year-old England defender has agreed a two-year deal with Inter, ending a trophy-laden 10-year spell at the Etihad.
Stones became a free agent on 30 June 2026 when his Manchester City contract expired. He is now in advanced talks with Inter, who are leading the race ahead of Juventus and Chelsea. The move would see Stones play in Serie A for the first time, bringing ball-playing ability and experience to Inter's backline.
“John Stones is leaving Man City on a free transfer to join Inter Milan. Why he's moving and what it means for England.”
The Barnsley academy product joined City from Everton for £47.5m in 2016. Under Pep Guardiola, he won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, the Club World Cup and the Uefa Super Cup in 295 appearances. However, last season he made only 13 appearances due to injury and fell out of favour, starting just five games after returning from a two-month lay-off.
At the 2026 World Cup, Stones impressed for England, starting the quarter-final win over Norway and the semi-final defeat against Argentina. He told the Guardian: "I still feel I have so much to give a club... a new challenge will be exciting." Mirror Football reports he rejected Chelsea to move abroad, and an agreement in principle with Inter is in place until 2028.
For UK readers, Stones' departure ends a Premier League era but does not affect his England career — he has 93 caps and remains eligible. Free transfers allow clubs to sign top players without a fee, but also mean losing an asset for nothing. Stones' move highlights how players increasingly run down contracts to control their next destination.
Q: Why did John Stones leave Manchester City? His contract expired in June 2026 and was not renewed. He had limited game time last season after injury, making only 13 appearances, and wanted a new challenge. He said: "I still feel I have so much to give a club."
Q: What is a free transfer? A free transfer happens when a player's contract ends and they can join another club without a transfer fee. The new club only pays wages and signing-on bonuses. Free transfers are common for older players or those out of favour, as clubs avoid losing them for nothing in the window.
Q: Could Stones still play for England if he moves to Italy? Yes. Playing abroad does not affect England eligibility. Stones has 93 caps and featured in the 2026 World Cup. So long as he is fit and playing regularly for Inter, he remains available for Thomas Tuchel's squad.
What happens next: Inter are expected to finalise the deal in the coming days, although a late bid from a Premier League side could still scupper it. Stones will become Inter's first English player since Ashley Young in 2020, and will compete for a starting spot as the club defend their Serie A title.
