Manchester City sign Everton defender John Stones for £47.5m
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Updated 09/08/2016 at 13:22 GMT
Manchester City have signed Everton defender John Stones in a £47.5m deal.
England's John Stones
Image credit: Reuters
The 22-year-old agreed a six-year contract to join City as new manager Pep Guardiola continued a major overhaul of his squad in a bid to reclaim the Premier League title they last won in 2014.
The 22-year old told ManCity.com: "I'm absolutely delighted to sign for City and now the deal's done I'm looking forward to the next stage in my career.
"I've obviously seen what's going on here at the Etihad, it's an ambitious club with a great manager so I can't wait to get stuck in and help achieve the goals.
"I know it will be tough getting a place in this team but I'm determined to become the best player I can be and help us to success.
"I had a wonderful time with Everton and wish them and their fans all the best but now I'll give my all for City."
Stones's name appeared in City's Champions League squad which was published on the UEFA website hours before the transfer was confirmed. The club admitted the mistake was a "huge embarrassment".
Pep Guardiola's club were required to submit their final list of players before midnight on Tuesday and Stones, 22, was included as part of City's squad even though the move from Merseyside had yet to be announced.
UEFA moved to address the situation in a statement released on the subject.
City have recruited extensively in support of their new manager, and Stones will join Nolito, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko as a summer arrival.
Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, said: “John is an excellent young English defender and we are all really pleased he is joining us. We have worked hard to bring him to City and we feel we are signing one of the best central defenders in Europe.”
And his new manager Guardiola praised Stones: "We want to help John show his quality with us and improve on what he has already achieved. I like the way he plays the game and I'm looking forward to welcoming him into the squad.""
With additional reporting from Reuters/PA Sport
How will Stones fit in at City?
City have recruited extensively in support of their new manager, and Stones will join Nolito, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko as a summer arrival.
They could now potentially field two formidable starting XIs.
OUR VIEW
Manchester City have now given Guardiola six players, and with the exception of Jesus and Zinchenko, all will expect to feature regularly for the first team. Unless Guardiola wants to completely overhaul the squad in just one season, it is reasonable to expect that the focus will now be on departures rather than more arrivals.
Perhaps only Joe Hart is the most at risk, as a goalkeeper can be swapped out of a club for significant improvement with minimal disruption for the rest of the side, unless Guardiola plans to have a goalkeeper play in the style of Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich.
The defence remains shaky, so there is room for improvement there, still, and central midfield could do with another new player unless Yaya Toure refinds his best form.
In attack, they are still vulnerable to an injury to Sergio Aguero, but that would be the case for almost any team save Barcelona and their excellent forward line. City have done plenty for Guardiola, and more could be done before the end of the transfer window, but they may choose to minimise any more changes until the next two transfer windows.
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