Manchester City have announced that they have reached agreement with Everton for their star defender John Stones.
Everton defender John Stones has been linked with a move to the Etihad ever since the transfer window began, but on Tuesday City finally confirmed the capture of the highly-rated English centre-back. Stones will reportedly cost the Citizens £47 million and make him the most expensive English defender of all time.
However, ESPN and several media houses had confirmed the transfer much before the official announcement as Stones was named in Manchester City’s Champions League squad.
Fans on Twitter saw it as good business by Everton and reckoned City had overpaid for yet another player:
Guardiola signing Stones for an inflated fee has echos of Ferguson signing a young Ferdinand for an inflated fee.
— Taintless Red (@TaintlessRed) August 9, 2016
Stones fee is £47.5m, rises if City win CL. Deal was completed just before midnight last night – the deadline for first CL squad submissions
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) August 9, 2016
When money buys you Stones: pic.twitter.com/boUGV1iJmG
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) August 9, 2016
Looking at the John Stones fee like City 100% haven’t learnt anything at all from Raheem Sterling have they
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) August 9, 2016
Man City confirm they’ve signed John Stones from Everton. Fee £47.5m. Second most expensive defender in world, after David Luiz. 6 year deal
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) August 9, 2016
John stones is not a bad player but 47 million, that’s mental. Think about it. Mental
— Alexander Orlov (@Eilidh_Kenny) August 9, 2016
Everton will be laughing all the way to the bank with that deal 47.5 million for stones ??
— Curtis Vickers (@Cvthe1st) August 9, 2016
2013: Everton sign John Stones from Barnsley for £3m
2016: Everton sell John Stones to Man City for £47.5m. Good business
— Jamie F’N Hand (@JamieHand101) August 9, 2016
John Stones is a super talented defender, but if the fee is £50m, Everton are right to accept it. Go & find Europe’s next top young defender
— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) August 9, 2016
While many saw it as a good signing made by Pep Guardiola:
Stones.
Less Cruyff turns in his box, more physical defending, simpler decision making, better in box awareness..
And he’ll be a defender.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) August 9, 2016
City signs Stones. Hate him as much as you want but the kid is good and will be the best English CB for a while
— k² (@goatinho_) August 9, 2016
Stones to City is such a good move for him tbh. Pep is the perfect manager for him to develop into a world class CB
— Russell (@VintageZlatan) August 9, 2016
John Stones best English CB around at the moment. Hopefully can reach his full potential under Guardiola
— Ádam (@aeph24) August 9, 2016
Stones deal reminds me of Sterling deal really. City not buying for the player he is now but the player he could become.
— Taffin (@CalvLyfeson) August 9, 2016
There were numerous comparisons to the world-record fee paid for Paul Pogba on the other side of Manchester.
City fans can’t slate the Pogba fee when they’ve just signed Stones for £47.5M(!!)
— JW (@beatbopping) August 9, 2016
So much money spent in the last 24hrs! Crazy! #Pogback #Stones
— Joé Hàll (@joehall1020) August 9, 2016
John Stones to Man City for almost £50M. Makes me feel better about paying 7 billion quid for Pogba now. Stones is awful
— DanNorton (@DanNorton_) August 9, 2016
That moment when City fans were laughing at the Pogba deal then realised they’ve signed Stones for £50M pic.twitter.com/i5zWkLzP8c
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) August 9, 2016
Pogba is a better signing than Stones, IMO. Even at the prices we have mentioned.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) August 9, 2016
Manchester United sign Paul Pogba
Manchester City close in on John Stones
Arsenal open talks with Jonny Evans pic.twitter.com/A9XNBcClyB— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) August 9, 2016