John Stones has completed his move from Everton to Manchester City – 11 hours after he was ‘unveiled’ as a City player on the Uefa website.
Red-faced Manchester City officials were forced to apologise after Stones was included in the club’s Champions League squad well ahead of the official announcement of Tuesday’s £47.5m deal.
City admitted putting Stones in the Champons League squad was ‘a huge administrative error, an embarrassment and a right royal mess’ adding they were ‘trying to keep a sense of humour and laugh about it and had hoped to reveal the deal when the ink was dry’.
The ink is dry now, and shatters the previous record for a defender – Rio Ferdinand’s £29m switch from Leeds to Manchester United in 2002.
Stones, 22, has signed a six-year deal, three years after joining the Toffees from Barnsley for jusy £3m.
Wearing a City training top, Stones admitted he was ‘shocked and speechless’, adding: ‘I can’t really explain how I feel right now – it’s mixed emotions.
‘It’s pure excitement and I cannot wait to get going.’
Asked why he had opted for City, Stones replied: ‘The manager and the team. When I played against them before I knew how good they were. I also spoke to a lot of the boys here and they wanted me to come.
‘I want to help City win trophies.’
And when asked what Pep Guardiola could help improve in him as a player, Stones replied: ‘Everything.’
Last summer Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho failed with three bids for Stones and Everton were believed to holding out for £50m.
Skipper VIncent Kompany’s name was not in the Champions League squad along with Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala – all thought to have an uncertain future under Guardiola.
But Yaya Toure – tipped to leave – was included.
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