John Stones, the formidable central defender, has transformed into a defensive powerhouse since his arrival from Everton in 2016, becoming one of Pep Guardiola’s earliest signings during his tenure.
He has now established himself as one of the finest footballers globally, leading the way as a solid defender and a creative force in our historic Treble-winning season.
Let’s take a closer look at his illustrious career at the Etihad Stadium up to this point.
2016/17
At just 22 years old, Stones made his debut four days after signing with Aleksandr Kolarov in the center of defense, contributing to a 2-1 victory against Sunderland at the Etihad.
Three days later, he made his European debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Steaua Bucharest, where Man City secured a 5-0 win.
City won all the first 10 games he appeared in, although the season concluded without any silverware, marking the only campaign in which he didn’t earn a medal.
His first goal for the club came in a 5-0 victory against West Ham in the FA Cup’s third round, and he also scored in the thrilling 5-3 win against Monaco.
2017/18
Stones clinched his first title as Man City became the first team to secure 100 points in a season. Despite injuries affecting his performance, he still made significant contributions, including three goals in Champions League matches against Feyenoord and Napoli.
Guardiola famously praised his character, stating that he has more ‘personality’ than anyone in the post-match press conference.
During the summer, Stones played a crucial role in helping the England national team reach the World Cup semifinals.
2018/19
Another pivotal season as City completed a domestic Treble, with Stones once again being the linchpin of our success.
The intense title race with Liverpool came down to the final match of the season, and our victory against Jurgen Klopp’s team in January proved to be crucial.
Stones played a significant part in that match, making a goal-line clearance showcased by technology, displaying how close it was to being a goal.
2019/20
Injuries and the Covid pandemic contributed to what may have been his most challenging season in his seven years at the Club.
The pinnacle was his appearance in the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley just before the season concluded.
2020/21
Stones was named in the PFA Team of the Year after helping Man City secure the Premier League and Carabao Cup double.
On the way to Wembley, he scored in the first-leg semi-final match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
He also played in our last six Champions League matches, although the final ended in disappointment with a 0-1 loss to Chelsea.
During the summer, he helped the England national team reach the final of the European Championship, breaking Bobby Moore’s 55-year-old record for consecutive clean sheets by a defender in a tournament.
2021/22
The season began with a new contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2026.
“This is the best place for me to play football and realize my ambitions,” he said.
The campaign will end with another Premier League winner’s medal, overtaking Liverpool on the final day of the season once again.
2022/2023
Stones made significant contributions as we completed the Treble, moving between center-back, full-back, and midfielder roles.
Crucial goals came in victories against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, as well as against Leicester and Arsenal in the Premier League as we chased down the Gunners.
He earned a place in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Tournament as we clinched the cup in a memorable campaign.
In his new attacking role, Stones completed all 7 dribbles attempted in the 1-0 victory against Inter, a success rate achieved in a final only by Lionel Messi (x2), Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho.
