{"slug": "john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner", "title": "John Stones released by Manchester City, praised by Tuchel as proven winner", "summary": "John Stones has been released by Manchester City after a decade at the club, making 293 appearances and winning six Premier League titles. Despite an injury-disrupted season, England manager Thomas Tuchel praised Stones as a 'proven winner' and started him in the World Cup opener against Croatia.", "body_md": "# John Stones released by Manchester City, praised by Tuchel as proven winner\n\nThe defender leaves the Etihad after a decade of dominance but earns a starting spot in England's World Cup opener against Croatia\n\nJohn Stones is no longer a Manchester City player. After ten years, 293 appearances, and a trophy cabinet that most defenders can only dream about, the 32-year-old confirmed his departure from the club on April 28, walking away as a free agent when his contract expires on June 30.\n\nBut here’s the thing: a player who couldn’t stay fit enough to hold down a regular spot in City’s squad this season just started England’s World Cup opener against Croatia. Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager, doesn’t seem bothered by the irony.\n\n## A decade at the Etihad, bookended by question marks\n\nStones arrived at Manchester City from Everton in August 2016 for an initial fee of £47.5 million. Over the next decade, Stones collected six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and three EFL Cups. The crown jewel was City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season. He extended his contract in 2021, a commitment that kept him at the Etihad through this season. But injuries plagued his 2025-26 campaign, limiting his appearances and ultimately making it clear that City wouldn’t be offering fresh terms.\n\n## Tuchel’s faith and England’s gamble\n\nTuchel acknowledged that Stones arrived at the England camp with minor muscle issues. But the German manager made his position clear, calling Stones a “proven winner” whose experience and leadership outweigh concerns about his recent fitness record.\n\nTuchel praised Stones as a “proven winner” with invaluable experience, selecting him to start England’s World Cup opener against Croatia despite his injury-disrupted season.\n\n## What comes next for Stones\n\nWith his City chapter officially closed, Stones enters free agency at 32. Bayern Munich and Everton have both been linked with a move. As a free agent, Stones commands no transfer fee, which makes him attractive even with his injury history.\n\n**Disclosure:** This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our\n\n[Editorial Policy](https://cryptobriefing.com/editorial-policy/).", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner", "canonical_source": "https://cryptobriefing.com/john-stones-manchester-city-released-tuchel-world-cup/", "published_at": "2026-06-20 09:55:37+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-20 10:14:21.255815+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-safety"], "entities": ["John Stones", "Manchester City", "Thomas Tuchel", "England", "Croatia", "Everton", "Bayern Munich"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/john-stones-released-by-manchester-city-praised-by-tuchel-as-proven-winner.jsonld"}}