Report: John Stones has verbal agreement for 2-year Inter contract
Quick summary
Reports indicate Manchester City defender John Stones has reached a verbal agreement with Inter Milan on a two-year contract, though no signing has been confirmed.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSky Sport Italia claim that John Stones has reached a verbal agreement with Inter for a two-year contract, after he became a free agent from Manchester City.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 25: John Stones of Manchester City brings out the 2018/2019 Premier League trophy during the After Party Celebration to mark the achievements of Manchester City men’s, women’s and academy teams during the 25/26 season at The Co-op Live Arena on May 25, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images) The England international went into the World Cup without a contract, as his deal with Manchester City was allowed to run down on June 30 after a decade with the club.
Juventus had also made an approach and held negotiations, but Inter went back in today with an improved proposal.
Inter secure Stones agreement ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JUNE 10: John Stones #5 of England looks on during a international friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium on June 10, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) According to Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio , Stones has this evening reached a verbal agreement with the Nerazzurri for a two-year contract.
It has wages worth €4m per season net.
The centre-back only celebrated his 32 nd birthday in May and was a regular in the England side that took bronze medal in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer.
Inter needed a defender to replace Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian, who were released at the end of their contracts.
There were also some Premier League clubs interested, such as Chelsea and Arsenal, but Stones preferred a new experience after 10 years with Manchester City.
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What happened
According to reports surfaced by Football Italia, John Stones is said to have a verbal agreement in place with Inter Milan for a two-year deal. The move would see the Manchester City centre-back leave the Premier League after a prolonged spell at the Etihad. Stones has struggled with injuries and inconsistent form in recent seasons, and the reported agreement suggests Inter are prepared to offer him a fresh start in Serie A. No official confirmation from either club has been provided, and the deal remains at the verbal stage rather than formally signed.
Chance analysis
If confirmed, this would be a significant move for both parties. For Inter, Stones would bring Premier League and Champions League experience, though his recent injury record raises availability concerns. For Manchester City, losing Stones would further deplete their centre-back depth, already a known vulnerability. The verbal-agreement status means this is not yet actionable for match prediction, but it signals Inter's intent to reinforce defensively for the upcoming season.
If completed, Inter gain an experienced but injury-prone centre-back; Man City lose a long-serving squad member in a position where they are already short.
Monitor for official confirmation before adjusting Inter's defensive depth or Man City's squad availability forecasts.