Manchester City have confirmed the signing of centre-back John Stones from Everton on a six-year deal.
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News broke that City had actually submitted Stones’ name in their Champions League roster along with the squad number of 24, the deadline for which was yesterday.
Stones has finally signed for City after weeks of haggling between the clubs and says he is excited about working with Blues boss Guardiola.
The club may also not have complete faith in high-priced pair Eliaquim Mangala (£32 million) and Nicolas Otamendi (£32 million), who haven’t quite lived up to their price tags since arriving in the Premier League.
Stones is City’s eighth signing under new coach Pep Guardiola, and his arrival took the club’s off-season spending to around $200 million.
Stones, who joined Everton from Barnsley in 2013 for three million pounds, became the world’s second most expensive defender after Brazilian David Luiz, who moved from Chelsea to Paris St Germain for 50 million pounds in 2014.
‘It was the manager, the team, when we played City I got beat and I knew they were a good team, ‘ said Stones.
“I think it’s 110 per cent the right decision to play under him”.
“I’m so thankful I’m getting this opportunity to come here and train with the best and improve day in, day out”.
“We want to help John show his quality with us and improve on what he has already achieved”, Guardiola said.
Stones, a ball-playing defender, wasn’t even a regular for Everton last season.
“Manchester City are delighted to announce the permanent transfer of John Stones from Everton”, the club confirmed on their website on Tuesday.
“He’s a victor and that’s what’s going to rub off on everyone”.
In City’s pre-season friendlies, midfielder Fernando and left-back Aleksandar Kolarov have been shuffled into the heart of the defence, with Belgian youngster Jason Denayer, yet to make a senior appearance for City, Guardiola’s only other option.
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by David Kappel”/>
