Inter Milan lock in England defender John Stones on two‑year deal

England John Stones reacted from the stands during the World Cup quarter‑final between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (Rebecca Blackwell/AP). Four days later, the 32‑year‑old defender completed his move to Serie A champions Inter Milan, signing on Thursday after a decade at Manchester City.

Stones left Manchester City as a free agent when his contract expired at the end of June, ending a spell that yielded six Premier League crowns and a Champions League trophy among other honours.

The defender agreed to a two‑year contract with Inter worth a reported four million euros (€4 million) per season, a deal that reflects both his experience and the club’s ambition.

“I’m someone who is very hungry to win again,” Stones told Inter’s website. “I’ve been very, very lucky and fortunate to have won so many things in the past. I want to bring that experience here and help the team, help the club and keep learning and growing as a player.”

He added, “I’m very excited. Hopefully, I can bring all of my attributes, and I’m very, very open to learning new things and a new way of football and a new league.”

In recent seasons, injuries have limited Stones, yet he remained a target for Chelsea and Arsenal before Inter out‑bid Serie A rival Juventus to secure his signature.

Stones featured in five of England’s eight World Cup matches, starting the quarter‑final victory over Norway and the 2‑1 semi‑final loss to Argentina, as the Three Lions ultimately finished third.

At Inter, he reunites with fellow defender Manuel Akanji, who also arrived from Manchester City last year. Together they collected seven trophies in three seasons at City, including the 2023 Champions League win over Inter.

Stones became one of the world’s most expensive defenders when he moved from Everton to Manchester City in 2016 for 47.5 million pounds, a record fee at the time, captured by photographer Blackwell.