John Stones 'over the moon' after signing new five-year Manchester City contract

England defender returned to form and favour last season to help City win the Premier League and Carabao Cup

John Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016.

John Stones could complete a decade at Manchester City after signing a new contract to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2026.

Stones, 27, returned to form and favour with club and country last season, forming a fine centre-back partnership with Ruben Dias as City won the Premier League and the Carabao Cup and reached the Champions League final and playing a pivotal part in an England defence who only conceded two goals in Euro 2020, when they were runners-up.

Stones, whose previous deal was due to expire next summer, said he was delighted to commit his future to City. “Just pure happiness,” he said. “I have been here for five years and to extend it another five, it is hard to put it into words. When you fall in love with a place, the people, the whole club, it is what I have worked for.

“I am so pleased to be staying another five years. After all the memories I have already made, the good times with people and how welcome I feel, I feel like it is definitely home. I am absolutely over the moon. It was an easy decision to put pen to paper.

“I have always felt settled. There is always that element that you have to fight for everything and I have said that numerous times. I will continue to say that and give everything for the club. I want more of the incredible memories we have had.”

Stones attributed his revival to changing “everything” after losing his place in a difficult 2019-20 season.

“It was just doing more training, more gym, finding little details with food or recovery, anything I could find to improve I tried to improve on,” he said. “I have set the bar now for myself and I still feel that there is room to improve on the non-football aspect off the pitch and definitely on the pitch as well.”

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “This is great news. “John is an exceptional footballer and a fantastic defender, whose attributes are well suited to our style of play.

“We knew when we signed him that we were getting a talented centre-back, but he has really matured in his five years here and, as we saw last season, is at the top of his game right now.”

2021/22 Premier League players to watch