Juventus explores potential deal to sign John Stones as football clubs eye free agent market

Juventus explores potential deal to sign John Stones as football clubs eye free agent market The veteran England defender's availability after leaving Manchester City highlights how even traditional sports are navigating budget-conscious roster building, a strategy crypto-native sports ventures have been pushing for years. Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jul. 26, 2026 John Stones, the 32-year-old England center-back who spent a decade at Manchester City, became a free agent on June 30 after his contract expired.

Now Juventus is circling, alongside a handful of other major European clubs looking to add experienced defensive talent without paying a transfer fee. The Stones sweepstakes Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Stones has been offered to Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan in early July. The Italian club is reportedly assessing the deal but has not submitted a formal bid.

Advertisement Stones won six Premier League titles during his time at Manchester City. He originally moved to City from Everton back in 2016 for £47.5 million, and he’s been a regular in England’s squad at major international tournaments.

The sticking points are more practical: his wage demands sit at roughly €6 million per year, and his recent injury record has raised red flags. For a club like Juventus, which has been navigating its own financial restructuring in recent seasons, those numbers matter. Chelsea has also entered the conversation, reportedly interested in bringing Stones to Stamford Bridge on a two-year deal.

The player is said to be open to that move, which would keep him in England’s top flight. Budget constraints The €6 million annual salary Stones reportedly commands is modest by Premier League standards but significant for Serie A clubs operating under tighter financial constraints. Juventus has been rebuilding its financial credibility after accounting irregularities led to a points deduction in the 2022-23 season, and every major financial decision is scrutinized through that lens.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy. SOCCER Juventus explores potential deal to sign John Stones as football clubs eye free agent market The veteran England defender's availability after leaving Manchester City highlights how even traditional sports are navigating budget-conscious roster building, a strategy crypto-native sports ventures have been pushing for years.

by Editorial Team Jul. 26, 2026 Share Add us on Google John Stones, the 32-year-old England center-back who spent a decade at Manchester City, became a free agent on June 30 after his contract expired. Now Juventus is circling, alongside a handful of other major European clubs looking to add experienced defensive talent without paying a transfer fee.

The Stones sweepstakes Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Stones has been offered to Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan in early July. The Italian club is reportedly assessing the deal but has not submitted a formal bid. Advertisement Stones won six Premier League titles during his time at Manchester City.

He originally moved to City from Everton back in 2016 for £47.5 million, and he’s been a regular in England’s squad at major international tournaments. The sticking points are more practical: his wage demands sit at roughly €6 million per year, and his recent injury record has raised red flags.

For a club like Juventus, which has been navigating its own financial restructuring in recent seasons, those numbers matter. Chelsea has also entered the conversation, reportedly interested in bringing Stones to Stamford Bridge on a two-year deal. The player is said to be open to that move, which would keep him in England’s top flight.

Budget constraints The €6 million annual salary Stones reportedly commands is modest by Premier League standards but significant for Serie A clubs operating under tighter financial constraints. Juventus has been rebuilding its financial credibility after accounting irregularities led to a points deduction in the 2022-23 season, and every major financial decision is scrutinized through that lens. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team.

For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.