Man City, Utd to beat Chelsea to Stones?
The two sides from Manchester could be trying to beat Chelsea to secure the services of the young England defender.
www.espn.com.auShort answer: As of mid-May 2026, John Stones’ future remains a topic of strong interest with multiple outlets suggesting he is set to leave Manchester City when his contract expires this summer, but there is no official confirmation of his destination yet. He was widely reported as likely to depart, with Bayern Munich among the clubs linked in various reports, though City had not publicly announced his exit at the time you asked.[1][3][6]
Details and context
- Current status at City: Reports in April 2026 indicated Stones was nearing the end of his contract and City had not yet confirmed his future, fueling ongoing exit talk.[1]
- Potential destinations: Among the clubs repeatedly linked in early 2026 coverage were Bayern Munich, Everton (a possible return), and other top European teams, though none had formal confirmation of an offer or agreement at that moment.[6]
- Stones’ stance: In 2025, Stones publicly expressed a desire to stay at City and help the team, which added some ambiguity to the late-2025/early-2026 chatter about a possible departure.[3]
What’s next
- Official confirmation likely to come from Manchester City or Stones’ camp when contractual decisions are finalized, including whether a free transfer occurs in June 2026 or if an extension or different move is agreed.[6][1]
- If you want, I can monitor reputable outlets (e.g., BBC Sport, The Independent, ESPN) for the latest confirmed updates and summarize any new developments with citations.[1][6]
Citations
- Latest reporting on Stones’ contract status and City’s silence on his future.[1]
- Stones’ public stance about staying at City in 2025 coverage.[3]
- BBC/transfer gossip context around a potential summer exit in 2026.[6]