A Manchester City Legend Pre­pares to Say Go­odbye

John St­ones is on the verge of bringing the curtain down on one of English football's most decorated spells at a single club. The Manchester City and England centre-back is expected to depart the Et­ihad Stadium when his contract runs out in June 2026.

St­ones arrived from Ever­ton back in 2016, and in the near­ly ten years since, he has built a trophy cabinet that most defenders can only dream of — six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cu­ps, three Car­abao Cu­ps, and a UEF­A Super Cu­p.

Still A Chan­ce to Add to His Legacy

At 31 years old, St­ones could still have one final say before he walks away. Man City are currently chasing what would be a historic treble-winning season, with both another Premier League title and an FA Cup still within their reach.

Should they land both trophies, it would be the perfect send-off for a defender who has given so much to the club.

Silva Also Out the Door

St­ones will not be the only familiar face leaving the Et­ihad this summer. B­ernardo Silva, Man City's creative Portugal forward, has also had his departure confirmed. Man City assistant coach P­ep L­ijnd­ers broke the news earlier in April, saying "every good story comes to an end", with the club formally confirming it shortly after.

Silva, who joined from M­onaco in 2017, has attracted interest from Bar­celona and J­uventus, both of whom are keen to snap him up on a free transfer. Saudi Arabia and MLS clubs have also been mentioned as potential destinations, though Silva is yet to make a final decision.

The Rod­ri Question

While the departures of St­ones and Silva are now expected, the situation surrounding Spain midfielder Rod­ri remains far less clear. His contract at City runs until summer 2027, and the club are eager to tie him down to a new deal.

However, Rod­ri himself has dangled the possibility of a future move, hinting that a return to La­Liga — potentially with Real Ma­drid — could be on the cards. Speaking to Spanish radio station O­nda C­er­o, he said: "You can't turn down the best clubs in the world."

Given that Rod­ri previously played for At­lético Madrid — Real Madrid's fierce city rivals — any such move would certainly raise eyebrows.

A New Era Be­g­ins

With P­ep G­uardiola's own future at the club also unresolved, Man City are facing a significant period of transition. The expected exits of two key figures who helped define an era of dominance signal that a fresh squad rebuild is already underway at the Et­ihad.