Manchester City extends the improved John Stones stay at the Etihad

Improve your game and we will extend your stay. The tale for John Stones, showing it was the smartest move to make leaving Everton back in 2016 for a fee of £47.5m to join Pep’s project at Manchester City.

Since then, it has been all about silverware for Stones but it has also been a rocky ride for the centre-back. Now though, that is all behind him and a reward in the shape of a new contract was handed to John Stones by Man City on Tuesday.

The Englishman, who is still to feature for City and missed the entire preseason, including their FA Community Shield loss to Leicester City, has signed a new long-term deal until 2026.

"John Stones has signed a contract extension at Manchester City until 2026."

All English Premier League

Ahead of last season, one would have argued that it was the last hurrah for Stones in Manchester blue but a spike in form and the birth of a new formidable partnership between him and the Premier League’s Player of the Year, Ruben Dias, changed all that drastically.

Stones with his partner cooked up the best defence for the 2020/21 campaign where they, as a club, conceded as few as 32 goals. In the 22 games he started, he helped keep 14 clean sheets, conceded as little as 12 goals, and helped chip in with four goals scored as well.

The Cityzens won 18 games and only lost three of them while he was on the pitch. He had a major part to play in them reclaiming their English glory.

This rise in form and trust exhibited by Guardiola in Stones handed him a recall into the England squad for Euros 2020 – proving he could still be the best English centre-back in the whole of Europe.

John Stones spoke of his delight on signing a new long-term deal:

"I couldn’t be happier. I love being part of this squad. There are so many quality players here and I know we can continue winning trophies, which is my main focus.Working with the manager [Pep Guardiola] is a dream – he has taught me so much about the game and I feel like I learn something new every single day.The success we’ve had in the last four years has been incredible. To be a part of it has been a dream come true and I just want to continue winning. (Via: Sky Sports)"

Other Manchester City stories

Besides finalising a mage-million deal of £100m for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, it has been a quiet summer for the Premier League champions Manchester City.

However, one must ask, how much more could one add to a squad worth £300m plus (after signing Grealish for £100m they have to be worth over £300 now)?

Surely there is no place in the squad for anybody new – on the contrary – there is plenty of space it seems. The only headlines that persist is that of City’s interest in Tottenham’s Harry Kane and what they are willing to over for him.

City still seeks to replace the departed Sergio Aguero and have identified Kane as the perfect successor for the Argentine. What we do know, for now, Harry Kane will be present for Manchester City’s opening fixture – but just on the other side in his Spurs drapes.

Manchester City’s done deals

Joined the club 2 players]

Scott Carson (Derby) Free
Jack Grealish [Aston Villa]

Left the club [10 players]

Sergio Aguero [Barcelona] Free
Eric Garcia [Barcelona] Free
Louie Moulden [Wolves] Free
Taylor Harwood-Bellis [Anderlecht] Loan
James Strafford [Accrington] Loan
Gavin Bazunu [Portsmouth] Loan
Lewis Fiorini [Lincoln] Loan
Jack Harrison [Leeds]
Callum Doyle [Sunderland] Loan
Lukas Nmecha [Wolfsburg]