Two‑year deal sees John Stones replace De Vrij at Inter

John Stones has agreed to a two‑year contract with Inter Milan, ending his free‑agent status after his Manchester City deal expired. The English centre‑back will replace Stefan de Vrij, who left the Nerazzurri for Panathinaikos, marking Stones’ first move abroad.

Stones, a World Cup standout, previously played for Barnsley and Everton before establishing himself at Manchester City. His contract with City ran out this summer, allowing him to explore options without a transfer fee.

Interest surged from Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus, but reports from The Athletic and indicate that Inter secured his signature. The move was confirmed shortly after the club announced its summer signings.

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Inter view Stones as the successor to De Vrij, who spent eight seasons in Milan and departed with several trophies in his cabinet. The Dutch defender’s exit opened a key defensive slot that Inter aimed to fill promptly.

The Italian side has already reinforced its squad this window, adding Aleksandar Stanković and Ivan Provedel, while converting Manuel Akanji’s loan into a permanent deal. Denzel Dumfries also left, joining Real Madrid.

Stones’ arrival adds experience to Inter’s back line as the club prepares for the new season, highlighting the market’s appetite for seasoned Premier League defenders on free transfers.