John Stones has turned down the chance to stay in the Premier League, rejecting Chelsea to join Inter Milan on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City.
The 32-year-old England defender, a free agent since his City contract expired at the end of June, has held advanced talks with the Serie A champions and agreed a two-year deal until 2028, according to reports. Inter are now leading the race to sign the centre-half, who also attracted interest from Juventus.
“John Stones rejects Chelsea to join Inter Milan on free transfer after Manchester City exit.”
Stones had multiple rounds of talks with Chelsea, who under new manager Xabi Alonso are expected to play with three centre-backs and are in the market for defensive reinforcements. But the former Barnsley and Everton defender opted for a move abroad, seeking a new challenge after a decade at the Etihad.
“I still feel I have so much to give a club and I feel in a good moment physically,” Stones said towards the end of last season. “There is a lot for me still to fight for in my career and a new challenge will be exciting. I’m keeping an open mind. I can take what I have learned here and maybe pass it on.”
Stones made 295 appearances for City after joining for £47.5m in 2016, 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. His final season was disrupted by injury – he made only 13 appearances before December, then was out for two months and selected only five more times by Pep Guardiola.
At the World Cup, Stones started the opening game for England against Croatia, was an unused substitute against Ghana and Panama, came off the bench in knockout wins over the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mexico, then started the quarter-final victory against Norway and the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Inter, who won Serie A last season – their second Italian title in three years – currently have no English players in their squad. A move to the San Siro would reunite Stones with former City teammate Manuel Akanji.
The deal could yet collapse if a Premier League club makes a late move. Arsenal need defensive cover after William Saliba’s back injury, and Chelsea remain in the market for centre-backs, but neither has yet approached Stones.