Manchester City have finally announced the signing of John Stones on a six-year deal which will keep the player at the Etihad till at least 2022. He has been signed for £47.5m. After a prolonged summer transfer saga, ironically it was the UEFA official website which inadvertently spilled the beans on the concluded deal when they put up the England International’s name in the 21-man team list for the Champions League qualifier submitted by City.
The Blues officially announced the deal in an hour’s time and Pep finally got his No.1 target for the summer. He becomes City’s eight summer signing after the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Aaron Mooy, Gabriel Jesus, Alexandar Zinchenko, Leroy Sane and Marlos Moreno. While Moreno and Mooy have been sent off on loan with Zinchenko to follow, the rest of them will have an important part to play this season.
Manchester City’s defensive frailties are a well-documented fact and it was universally recognized they would need to toughen up at the back if the team harboured hopes of attaining a well-balanced look.
After the first title-win in 44 years when Kompany and Lescott formed a formidable pair at the heart of defence, City have largely failed to replicate that sort of a partnership in the recent years. Pep likes his defenders to be extremely comfortable on the ball and build play from the back. With Demichelis leaving and Kompany injured it left Otamendi and Mangala as the only recognized centre-backs in the team. But Pep is reportedly unconvinced by Mangala and City are willing to let him leave for the right price.
It is expected Pep will have the same effect on Stones’ career as he had with Gerard Pique at Nou Camp. He transformed the Spaniard’s playing style and helped him become one of the world’s best defenders. Stones will fit in with Guardiola’s philosophy and his ball-playing style and ability to step out of defence with the ball will help him adjust quickly. At 22 years of age, Stones will be eager to learn from the brilliant Pep and fulfil his aim of joining the big league.
And surprisingly Manchester United fans have been trolling City because of the transfer fee after they signed Pogba for £89m themselves.
@ManCity good luck, i’m sure Pep will turn him into a brilliant player just a shame we had Roberto Martinez in charge of him.
— Matthew (@EFCMatthew) August 9, 2016
@ManCity #WelcomeStones pic.twitter.com/Gq6E4R7wAv
— Steve 2K16 (@OrcadianFire) August 9, 2016
@DjSprayK @ManCity way too much money, even Bailly for £30 million looks like a bargain compared to this
— Sam (@VintageDivock) August 9, 2016
@Jay_Sanin @ManCity good work hiring the most desired manager in the world and then getting him Stones lmao
— Haver (@HaverOfOpinions) August 9, 2016
@ManCity Still raw but a real prospect. Stones has natural attributes and he is going to be world class under Pep #WelcomeJohn
— SamSANE (@SamsonKip) August 9, 2016
@ManCity can’t even defend Just a White Mangala
— King Standish (@Mr_KinG_Ceo) August 9, 2016
@ManCity Great news as an England fan, think playing under Pep will really help him develop.
— Matthew Slaughter (@MDS2965) August 9, 2016
