On the eve of the 2016-2017 Premier League season, an English international has changed teams.
Everton center back John Stones, the subject of a failed transfer bid from Chelsea in the run-up to last season, has been sold to Manchester City for £47.5 million ($62.1 million).
This signing obviously affects his new club, and his old one as well. But as is the case with any transfer, the dominoes will fall all over.
What it means for City?
Pep Guardiola hasn’t wasted much time rebuilding Manchester City’s squad. Stones is his eighth signing this summer, following Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Marlos Moreno, Aaron Mooy and Oleksandr Zinchenko into the blue half of Manchester.
Stones is hailed in the team’s press release as “ball-playing, 21st-century defender.” It’s not hard to imagine him eventually being a good fit in Guardiola’s possession scheme.
“We want to help John show his quality with us and improve on what he has already achieved,” Guardiola said in the statement. “I like the way he plays the game and I’m looking forward to welcoming him into the squad.”
There’s is a bit of recent history working against him, however. Center backs Kolo Toure, Jerome Boateng, Stefan Savic, Matija Nastasic and Eliaquim Mangala have all come in for big money and failed to impress for City.
He’s excited about the challenge, however.
“I hope (Guardiola) can bring out everything in me,” he said. “I always know that there’s a lot of improvement for my game personally. It’s 110 percent the right decision to play under him and I’m so thankful that I’m getting the opportunity to come here and play with the best and improve day in, day out.”
What it means for Everton?
The Toffees, with the check from the Stones’ sale on its way to the bank, raided Swansea for its captain, Ashley Williams.
Williams, who had a strong European Championship with Wales, should slot into Stones’ spot in the starting lineup. He’s nearly 10 years older, but he’s an experienced center back who improves any back line he plays in.
If there’s a bright side to losing Stones for Everton fans, it’s that it appears that the new owner plans to reinvest the money in the club. Everton is trying to pry Yannick Bolase away from Crystal Palace for £28 million in addition to making a bid for Sunderland center back Lamine Koné.
Other effects
- Championship side Barnsley, Stones’ first club, will get between £7m and £9m from a sell-on clause
- Swansea City is significantly weaker at the moment, after selling Williams and Andre Ayew (to West Ham)
- City is rumored to be shopping Mangala, who may be the odd man out with Stones in the squad
