John Stones has to halt Man City exit video as star fights back tears | Football | Sport

England star John Stones has fought back tears after announcing in an emotional statement that he will leave Manchester City this summer. The centre-back joined City from Everton for £47.5million in August 2016.

Stones has gone on to make 293 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team. The 31-year-old has helped City win 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, two FA Cups and five Carabao Cups.

The defender announced his decision to leave the Etihad Stadium in a video on his official Instagram page. Stones struggled to compose himself during the clip released on Tuesday.

He said: “It’s been my home for the past ten years and it will be my home for the rest of my life. it’s been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now leaving as a man becoming a father a husband and on the pitch a very fulfilled player in living all of my dreams out and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve. At the start of my career I never would have thought I’d be in this position – first to achieve everything but to have and love the bond with everyone.

“Every dream has been smashed out of the park. From day one, as soon as I came I felt at home and I felt loved. I can only relate it to me as a little kid. If you’d said to me that I’d be playing at City winning everything, the fans are signing your name and your song throughout the stadium to wherever you go in the world, I don’t think I would have believed them.

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“The fans mean everything to me. I hope I’ve made them proud, I hope that they can relate to me as a person and as a player with how I’ve played, how I’ve represented the club and will do for the rest of my life.”

The highlight of Stones’ time at City is undoubtedly their Champions League victory in 2023. That 1-0 win over Inter Milan also secured a treble for Guardiola’s men after they claimed the Premier League title and FA Cup that season.

The former Barnsley player said: “All the setbacks that you have and the good things that you have came into light in that [Champions League final] game or after that game, it made it worthwhile what you have to go through that people don’t necessarily see and to celebrate and do it in the fashion that we did with all my family and friends was incredible.”

Stones is the only player to have been in City’s first-team squad for the entirety of Guardiola’s tenure so far.

He added: “The manager, how I could describe this ten years with him, I don’t think it would have been anywhere as successful without him. The first time that I met him, I left and knew that it was what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be playing under the best manager in the world.

“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to spend so long with him, win everything with him and share and have so many incredible moments together. I feel very lucky and grateful for what he’s done for me. I’ve got endless memories with everyone and ones that I’ll cherish forever.

“I’ve been so lucky to be in every dressing room with incredible people and I’m so glad I’ve been able to do it with all of them. It will always be my home and I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart. This is my team forever and always will be and I don’t have the words to say what I feel and how much I love everything about it.”

Stones has seen his minutes decline for City this season due to injuries and new arrivals in defence. Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov – both signed in the last 18 months – have formed a partnership at the heart of defence and Ruben Dias is still to return.

Confirmation of Stones’ departure comes soon after captain Bernardo Silva confirmed he would be leaving the Etihad this summer.

Both players will get the send-off they deserve, having played key roles in the most decorated period in City’s history.