John Stones is close to joining Inter on a free transfer after reaching an agreement over personal terms with the Italian club.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since his Manchester City contract expired on June 30, ending a highly successful ten-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.

Inter have now moved ahead of several rival clubs in the race for his signature. The transfer is not yet official, but Stones is expected to complete the remaining formalities before undergoing a medical examination in Milan.

According to Sky Sport Italia’s report on the negotiations, Stones has given his verbal approval to the move and is ready to sign a two-year contract worth approximately €4 million per season.

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Agreement reached until 2028

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano later reported that the agreement would run until June 2028 without an option for an additional season.

“John Stones to Inter, here we go! Approval on contract terms just arrived, all confirmed,” Romano wrote.

He added: “Deal until June 2028, no option for further year. Salary around €4m net per season. Stones will undergo medical in Milano soon.”

Although the agreement appears to be at an advanced stage, Inter must still complete the documentation and receive medical clearance before presenting Stones as a new player.

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The absence of a transfer fee has made the England international an attractive option, although his salary demands and recent injury record had previously caused hesitation among interested clubs.

Inter win race for experienced defender

Stones had attracted interest from several prominent European sides after leaving Manchester City.

Juventus held discussions over a possible move, while Arsenal and Chelsea were also linked with attempts to keep the defender in the Premier League. Inter, however, appear to have convinced him to embrace a first experience outside English football.

As Sky Sports described in its report on the agreement, the defender’s representatives are now working to finalise the remaining terms of the transfer.

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Stones would provide Inter with experience, tactical flexibility and the ability to build attacks from defence. He can operate as a conventional centre-back, in a back three or step forward into midfield when his team are in possession.

Those qualities could make him particularly valuable in Serie A, where positional awareness and the ability to play through pressure remain important demands for central defenders.

A decorated decade in Manchester

Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016 and became one of the most successful English defenders of his generation.

During his decade with the club, he won six Premier League titles and played a central role in the historic treble-winning campaign of 2022–23. He started the Champions League final against Inter and operated in a hybrid defensive-midfield role as City secured their first European Cup.

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According to Manchester City’s farewell announcement, Stones decided to leave after a period in which injuries had increasingly restricted his appearances.

“It’s been my home for the past ten years, and it will be my home for the rest of my life,” he said when announcing his departure.

“I came as a kid and now, leaving as a man, becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player, living all of my dreams and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve.”

Injury record remains the main concern

Stones’ technical quality and experience are not in doubt, but his availability has been a persistent issue in recent seasons.

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A series of muscular problems limited his playing time during the final years of his Manchester City career. Inter will therefore pay close attention to his condition during the medical examination.

The Italian club would still regard the deal as an opportunity to add an elite and proven defender without paying a transfer fee. His experience in major finals, title races and international tournaments could also be valuable to a squad expected to compete for honours in Italy and Europe.

A new challenge in Serie A

The move would represent a significant change for Stones, whose entire senior club career has so far been spent in England.

He began at Barnsley before moving to Everton and then Manchester City, where he developed under Pep Guardiola into one of Europe’s most accomplished ball-playing defenders.

Inter would offer him the chance to test himself in a different tactical environment while continuing to compete at the highest level.

For the Italian champions, the proposed transfer combines pedigree with financial opportunity. For Stones, it provides a fresh start after injuries brought an increasingly frustrating end to an otherwise remarkable decade in Manchester.

Only the final paperwork and medical examination remain before the England defender can begin the next chapter of his career in Milan.