Defender Stones joins Inter Milan on free transfer

What the report says

BBC Sport reported that England defender John Stones has joined Inter Milan on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City at the end of June. The 32-year-old centre-back has signed a two-year contract with the Italian club, who are the reigning Serie A champions.

Stones departed City when his contract expired, ending a 10-year spell in which he became one of the club’s most decorated players. According to the BBC, he said he had “lived all my dreams out” after winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup and the Uefa Super Cup. He made 295 appearances for City and scored 19 goals after moving from Everton in 2016 for £47.5m.

The report said Stones had drawn interest from several European clubs, including Chelsea and Juventus, after becoming a free agent. His move gives Inter an experienced international defender as they prepare to defend the league title they won for the 21st time last season. Inter are scheduled to begin that defence against newly promoted Monza on Saturday, 22 August.

Stones, who began his senior career at Barnsley, has also been a regular for England since making his debut in 2014. BBC Sport said he has won 93 caps and was part of the squad that finished third at this summer’s World Cup, starting both the quarter-final win over Norway and the 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina.