On 9 August 2016, John Stones joined Manchester City as one of Pep Guardiola’s new recruits for the beginning of one of the greatest chapters in the club’s history. He was the Spaniard’s most expensive signing in that first transfer window, costing £47.5 million from Everton.
Questions were raised about the transfer fee at the time but Guardiola brought the Englishman in for a mini project inside the wider vision. The move had its risks but the one thing that stood out over everything else in Guardiola’s mind was that Stones was a centre-half who could pass the ball, and pass it well.
Like many players under Guardiola’s guidance over the past seven years, Stones has evolved as a player, complete with his ups and downs. But now he has certainly proven that he was worth every penny that City invested in him all those years ago.
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The versatile centre-back has developed into one of the best defenders in the world, and based on his positioning in recent months, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world too thanks to Guardiola’s nurturing. As Man City defeated Inter Milan to claim their first Champions League title on Saturday, sealing them a historic treble, Stones was crucial in their triumph in Istanbul.
He put his body on the line in the moments in which his side were under the cosh against Inter, with his centre-back instincts kicking in. As soon as he dealt with the danger, the thought process for his new position took over, his mind transitioning from winning the ball back to helping his side advance up the pitch.
There has never been any doubt about his ball-carrying ability, some had felt he might have moved into defensive midfield much earlier in his career due to the composure he exudes when in possession. This skill played a prominent role in City’s victory on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old drove the ball up the pitch and didn’t shy away from helping his teammates move the ball around the final third. We got treated to some flair from the Barnsley academy graduate as he completed six dribbles in the match, the most by a player in a Champions League final since Lionel Messi (10) for Barcelona in 2015.
The Yorkshireman left the Ataturk Olympic Stadium field being serenaded by the City fans and rightly so. The ‘Barnsley Beckenbauer’, as he has been described, has been key to City this season, perhaps on a par with serial goalscoring record breaker Erling Haaland, who of course has been the front man for this incredible season.
But while Haaland was scoring for fun, City as a group didn’t really click into gear until the final months of the campaign. Stones’ advanced role in the side was the springboard for their outstanding 12-game winning streak in the Premier League that saw City remove the eight-point deficit that challengers Arsenal had at the top of the table at the beginning of April.
Stones has thrived off the trust that Guardiola showed in him to drift into midfield and, at times, play with freedom. His influence has made a great impact on the team in all three major competitions they have won this year.
He has faced adversity during his time at the Etihad Stadium, however. In both 2019-20 and 2021-22 he started just 12 Premier League games. Heading into this momentous year, he wasn’t even guaranteed a starting place. Following the departure in January of Joao Cancelo, who had been the most prominent defender to fill the deep midfield role, Stones took over the mantle and the rest, as they say, is history.
Stones’ interchangeable role might be one of Guardiola’s great tactical tweaks. It has played a crucial role in the club’s greatest season in history and his direct contributions undoubtedly make him one of the best players in the world, whether that be defender or midfielder - he goes into both categories.
When it comes to the Ballon d’Or later this year, Haaland looks to be City's best shot at winning the golden ball for his spectacular 52-goal haul. But Stones has definitely done more than enough to be one of this year’s nominees, as without him City may not have won this immortalising treble.
