{"id":22197,"date":"2026-07-28T02:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T02:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=22197"},"modified":"2026-07-28T02:54:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T02:54:30","slug":"john-stones-reaches-verbal-agreement-for-swift-reunion-as-arsenal-and-chelsea-get-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=22197","title":{"rendered":"John Stones reaches &#8216;verbal agreement&#8217; for swift reunion as Arsenal and Chelsea get update"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_9f853e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">John Stones left Manchester City at the end of the season and the England defender has found a new club amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"34361904\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"John Stones\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34361904.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2285713026.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34361904.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2285713026.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34361904.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2285713026.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34361904.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2285713026.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"John Stones is on the move\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John Stones is on the move<cite aria-label=\"Image: GSI\/Icon Sport via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: GSI\/Icon Sport via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal and Chelsea appear to have beaten rivals to John Stones&#8217; signature, with the England defender having reached a verbal agreement with his next club. The England star is set to sign a two-year deal with Inter Milan after leaving Manchester City at the end of this contract.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stones&#8217; representatives are now hashing out the final details ahead of confirming a move, per Sky in Italy, with the move set to be complete before the week is out. That could see the 32-year-old unveiled ahead of Inter&#8217;s pre-season friendly clash with City at the weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The ex-Everton defender is set to link up with one former City team-mate regardless. Manuel Akanji joined the San Siro outfit on a permanent basis following his season-long loan spell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Inter look set to have beaten a number of clubs to his signature. Juventus made an approach over the weekend, but it appears that the Serie A champions have been more persuasive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stones attracted interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, despite barely featuring for City last season. The veteran, however, put in some solid performances during England&#8217;s World Cup campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Gunners have been looking to shore up their defence following William Saliba&#8217;s injury, while Chelsea are seeking to bolster their squad this summer, with striker Danny Welbeck and midfielder Jordan Henderson also on their wishlist.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-34357526\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"34357526\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5215199689802248\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"John Stones.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34357526.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2286531033.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34357526.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2286531033.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34357526.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2286531033.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article34357526.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2286531033.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Chelsea and Arsenal eyed John Stones\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Chelsea and Arsenal eyed John Stones<cite aria-label=\"Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA\/The FA via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Eddie Keogh &#8211; The FA\/The FA via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE!<\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stones&#8217; exit from Manchester City was confirmed back in April, giving him the chance to bid a fond farewell to the club. The Barnsley-born star enjoyed a hugely successful decade at the Etihad that mirrored Pep Guardiola&#8217;s tenure, though injury has hampered his involvement in recent campaigns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking prior to his exit, Stones admitted he wished his time at City could have continued. &#8220;Everything comes to an end and I wish it&#8217;d go on forever, but I know that that&#8217;s not a possibility,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s tough, but at the same time, I can look back on the 10 years and I&#8217;m so proud of what I&#8217;ve achieved and what I&#8217;ve done here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The memories that I&#8217;ve got with absolutely everyone, not just the players, the staff, the fans, the guys that we all see on a daily basis and you&#8217;ve become friends with and have bonds with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not sunk in yet, but when I leave I think it will and it&#8217;ll hit me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Thousands of Arsenal fans upgraded their matchday last season. 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Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Stones left Manchester City at the end of the season and the England defender&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}