Manchester City defender John Stones has admitted he came close to retiring from football last season due to persistent injury problems.
Stones managed only 11 Premier League appearances in 2024–25, missing much of the campaign with foot and hamstring issues. His final game came in February.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
Speaking to the BBC, Stones said: “Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping. I didn’t want to do it. I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right… to then keep breaking down and not having the answers.”
He added that the mental toll of repeated setbacks pushed him into a “very difficult place,” though he never truly believed he would walk away from the game.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
“I said years ago when City wanted me to have a new challenge, I said ‘I am going to fight’. That’s all I have known since I was a kid — why should I stop that now?” Stones said.
[The Daily Mirror reports] that City are planning to open talks over a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
Stones has since recovered and earned an England recall for the October internationals, with matches against Wales and Latvia coming up.