Manchester City centre-back John Stones is set to leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 31-year-old is poised to bring an end to a trophy-laden decade-long spell at the Etihad Stadium this summer, marking the end of a remarkable Man City career.
Stones is the latest Man City veteran confirmed to be on his way out after Bernardo Silva also announced his departure from the club at the end of the season.
Silva has also been a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s core Man City squad that has dominated the Premier League for the better part of the past decade.
A recurring thigh problem has limited Stones’ impact in Man City’s title challenge this season, sidelining him for nearly two months between December and February.
Stones has only featured 15 times in all competitions this season. Seven of those have come in the Premier League, although he has started just four.
Despite recent struggles, Stones will go down as a Man City cult hero for his contributions to the club over the past decade.
Since joining from Everton for around £50 million in 2016, Stones has grown into one of the club’s most reliable players at the heart of the defence.
That transfer made him the second-most-expensive defender in history at the time, but he has proven to be a shrewd investment over the years.
Stones has made nearly 300 appearances for Man City, bagging 19 goals and nine assists. He has won numerous trophies in Man City colours, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
He’ll likely add a seventh league title this season, with Man City now holding all the cards in what has been a remarkable title race with Arsenal.
