During Manchester City's triumphant 2022-23 season, Stones made 34 appearances, earning him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year and the Champions League Team of the Season. However, the 29-year-old has been plagued by injury issues at the Etihad, and in the current 2023-24 season, he has only made five appearances. Nevertheless, when he's fit, Stones plays a crucial role in Guardiola's system.
Stones, who has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 233 matches for the Premier League champions, signed a long-term extension in 2021, with the terms set to run until the summer of 2026. Despite this, there are reports that Manchester City is eager to extend his contract further and is currently negotiating with Stones and his representatives.
When Stones renewed his contract two years ago, it was agreed that discussions about an extension would take place when the 2023-24 season arrived. Back then, he received an impressive pay increase, but the latest reports suggest that a new contract would place him among the club's highest earners, alongside stars like Erling Haaland.
Manchester City's head coach, Pep Guardiola, is reportedly pushing for the extension, praising Stones as one of his favorite players at the club. If the negotiations are successful, the new terms would keep Stones at the Etihad until the end of the 2026-27 season. By then, the 33-year-old center-back, who was acquired by the club for £48.2 million in 2016, will have reached a more mature stage in his career.
