New Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan cost the club less than £5m, as did goalkeeper Loris Karius, while Manchester City’s new winger Marlos Moreno – who will link up with Stones next summer after a year on loan in Colombia – was a £4.75m buy.
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Joined Manchester City on a six-year deal that makes him the world’s second most expensive defender behind Brazilian David Luiz.
Etihad Stadium – 13/1/16 Everton’s John Stones in action with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. “It will probably take me a few weeks to settle in and get my head around it but I’m super excited”.
Whichever Barnsley employee insisted on a sell-on fee when John Stones joined Everton deserves a raise.
Everton rejected a £40m bid for Stones from Chelsea last summer, with the player having a transfer request refused by chairman Bill Kenwright.
City boss Pep Guardiola added: “We want to help John show his quality with us and improve on what he has already achieved”.
“I like the way he plays the game and I’m looking forward to welcoming him into the squad”.
And Stones revealed that playing under the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach was one of the main reasons why he agreed the switch.
“I always know there’s a lot of improvement for my game personally”.
“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”.
“I’ve obviously seen what’s going on here at the Etihad, it’s an ambitious Club with a great manager so I can’t wait to get stuck in and help achieve the goals”.
UEFA caused consternation yesterday morning when they published the squad list before City had formally announced Stones’ signing.
But he still hadn’t officially joined City by the time UEFA listed Stones in the team’s squad for the Champions League playoff round against Steaua Bucharest.
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City confirmed they will listen to offers for Nasri, Bony and Mangala after leaving them out of the squad they supplied to UEFA for their play-off tie.
