Manchester City have confirmed that John Stones will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the 2025/26 season, according to reports from FootballTransfers. The 31-year-old centre-back, who joined from Everton for £47.5 million in 2016, will depart as a free agent following a decade at the Etihad Stadium that yielded six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Everton and Newcastle United are understood to be the primary suitors monitoring the defender’s situation as he prepares for a move away from Manchester.
Squad evolution and Manchester City’s defensive shift
The decision to allow Stones to depart reflects an ongoing shift in Pep Guardiola’s defensive hierarchy. Despite his pivotal "hybrid" midfield role during the 2023 Treble-winning campaign, Stones has struggled with availability in recent seasons. Data shows he featured in fewer than 45% of City’s Premier League minutes across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns. As reported by The Athletic, the emergence of academy graduate Jahmai Simpson-Pusey combined with Stones' injury record has led the club to prioritise younger options. An unnamed club spokesperson told FootballTransfers that while Stones was fundamental to the club’s success, both parties reached a mutual agreement that it was the right time for a new chapter.
Financial implications and potential destinations
By allowing Stones to see out his final £250,000-a-week deal, City will clear approximately £13 million in annual wage headroom. This financial flexibility is significant as the club navigates tightening Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) while being linked with high-profile targets such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. For the interested parties, the appeal is clear: Newcastle United view Stones as a way to inject winning experience into a backline that has lacked consistency in European races, while a return to Everton would see the defender finish his top-flight career where it began. Although Everton are monitoring the situation, Merseyside outlets have yet to corroborate reports of preliminary talks with the player’s representatives.
Stones will remain part of the City squad for the remainder of the current campaign as they pursue further silverware before his summer 2026 departure.