Inter Milan are in negotiations to sign center-back John Stones on a free transfer, with talks ongoing and hopes of completing the deal by the end of the week. The move would reunite Stones with former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, who joined Inter permanently this summer following a season-long loan in 2025-26.
Inter has been active in the transfer market, also signing Serbia international midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel from Lazio. The club reached the Champions League final last season under manager Cristian Chivu but were defeated 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City announced in April that Stones would depart upon the expiration of his contract after a decade at the club. The Athletic previously reported anticipation that several top European clubs would show interest in the defender, including Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsenal has been exploring centre-back options following William Saliba's back injury, while Chelsea has sought a ready-made defensive addition.
Stones had a strong World Cup with England, helping the team reach the semifinals. He appeared in five of England's eight matches, contributing to key defensive performances against Mexico, where he entered as a second-half substitute with England down to 10 players, and Norway, where he played the full 120 minutes in the quarterfinal win. He also started England's semifinal loss to Argentina, playing nearly the entire match before being substituted in injury time after Lautaro Martinez put Argentina ahead 2-1.
The tournament followed an injury-disrupted 2025-26 season for Stones, who made just 18 appearances across all competitions for City. He also managed only 20 appearances the previous season due to foot and hamstring issues, and revealed in October 2025 that his fitness struggles had led him to consider retirement.
Stones joined City from Everton in 2016 at age 21 and quickly became a regular fixture during the club's dominant run under Pep Guardiola. Over 10 seasons, he made 295 appearances, winning six Premier League titles, the 2023 Champions League, five League Cups and three FA Cups.
Stones has also represented England for 12 years, making his senior debut in 2014. He has earned 94 caps, appearing at three World Cups and two European Championships, reaching the final on both occasions without winning the title.




















