John Stones has completed his long-awaited move to Manchester City, being confirmed in a deal which makes him the most expensive defender ever purchased by an English club. It is the end of a saga which has seen Guardiola chasing a defender who can play the ball all summer, resulting in the signing of the Everton centre-back.
It was expected for much of the summer that City would complete a move for the 22-year-old, but spent the last few weeks haggling over a price with Everton, who aren’t short of money themselves having been taken over earlier this year. This gave them leeway should they have wanted to keep Stones, and they tried wanted up to £50 million for the defender. Later reports suggested they came to an agreement on a slightly lower fee, at around £42 million.
Stones has completed his move down the M62 on a six-year contract, and has been given the number 24 shirt last worn by Patrick Vieira in the 2010-11 season. The former Barnsley man has been registered by City in time to play in both the Premier League opener against Sunderland and the Champions League play-off round against Steaua Bucuresti, with the first leg in Romania next week.
22-year-old Stones earned plaudits for his appearances in an Everton shirt over the last three seasons, making his most league appearances for them in a single campaign last time round with 33. Overall, he has made 77 Premier League appearances, along with another 21 in other competitions. He came in for criticism last year, often being labelled as too careless with the ball or holding onto it for too long, but Pep will be hoping he can work any issues out of the defender over the coming year.
It’s possible that the arrival of Stones could spell the end for Eliaquim Mangala, who has only just returned from the European Championships. Pep Guardiola hinted after the friendly loss to Arsenal in Sweden that both the French defender and Wilfried Bony could leave by the end of the transfer window.
