A Manchester City fan favourite will say goodbye on Sunday and his contribution to City has been immense

The England international also leaves the club as a City legend, as John Stones’ contribution to the club in the most successful era of the club’s history has been immense. He has arguably been the most elegant City defender in and out of possession in the club’s history, and that trait was vital to what was arguably Pep Guardiola’s side’s greatest triumph. John Stones has established himself as a special player in the history of Manchester City.

Manchester City signed John Stones from Everton in the summer of 2016. He was one of the first players signed when Pep Guardiola began his journey as Manchester City manager. Life didn’t begin well at City for Stones, just like his manager.

It took time for Pep Guardiola’s philosophy to become embedded at City, as it did for John Stones to settle in at the club and to life playing under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola famously said in 2017 that Stones had more personality and more “balls” than anyone in the room after his team drew 1-1 with Liverpool in 2017. Throughout Stones’ time at City, Pep Guardiola’s statement rang true.

John Stones was a decisive player in Manchester City’s era of dominance. His ability as a ball-playing defender was a key component of Pep Guardiola’s side, as was his center-back partnership with Ruben Dias. Stones gave Pep Guardiola a midfielder at centre-back.