Manchester City have been living through a season of changes, but even in a summer that has seen big names like Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson leave, one story has shaken the fans in a way few others could. The story of John Stones, a player who was once considered untouchable under Pep Guardiola, has now turned into a sad drama that leaves the City supporters divided, angry, and in pain. The moment the news dropped that Stones had withdrawn from the England squad during the international break, the reaction was not one of sympathy, it was one of frustration, disappointment, and for many fans, the end of the road. “He’s finished,” many City supporters cried out online, and suddenly the future of one of Guardiola’s longest serving soldiers looks uncertain.
For Manchester City, the last few months have been about reshaping the team. The exits were huge. Kevin De Bruyne, the man who defined the Guardiola era, joined Napoli. Jack Grealish, once the record signing, was shipped out on loan to Everton. Kyle Walker, the warrior on the right flank, went to Burnley. Even Ederson, the goalkeeper who transformed the way goalkeepers play with their feet, left for Fenerbahce. In came Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, Rayan Cherki, and others as Guardiola attempted to start another cycle of dominance. But not everyone who stayed has been welcomed with the same level of faith. John Stones is one of them.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Stones. When he first joined City from Everton, his early days were difficult, filled with mistakes and criticism, but under Guardiola he reinvented himself. He became a ball-playing defender who was trusted in the biggest games. In the treble season, he was even moved into midfield in the Champions League final, showing just how important he was to Guardiola’s tactical genius. But football can be cruel, and the body does not always obey the demands of the game. For Stones, injuries have become a never-ending curse. Season after season, there have been absences, muscle pulls, setbacks, and missed opportunities. The numbers tell the story. He missed 32 games last season, 10 the season before, and 13 in the one before that. A defender who should be at the peak of his career at 30 is now seen as unreliable.
When the news broke that he had withdrawn from the England squad during the September international break, fans knew what was coming. The club tried to play it down, calling it a “precautionary measure.” Thomas Tuchel, England manager, called it a “minor muscle issue.” But for the City faithful, it didn’t matter what the official line was. They had seen this story too many times before. First, it is minor. Then it becomes weeks. Then it becomes months. For supporters, patience has run out. Social media exploded with comments, not of sympathy, but of anger.
“Time to move on from him. Great player but way too injury prone,” wrote one fan. “He should’ve been sold in the summer. Keeping him just because he’s good when fit makes no sense when he’s rarely fit,” said another. Some went further, calling him a “finished player” and even demanding his retirement. Harsh words for a player who has given everything when available, but this is the reality of football at the very top. Sentiment is short-lived. Success demands ruthlessness.
The anger comes not just from Stones’ fragility, but from the situation at City’s backline. This summer, City allowed Manuel Akanji to leave for Inter Milan, trusting Stones to remain one of the key partners for Ruben Dias. With his injury, that trust now feels misplaced. The squad suddenly looks thinner at the back than Guardiola might have wanted, and fans are furious that the club did not take stronger steps to replace Stones when they had the chance. He has one year left on his contract, and there has been no sign of a renewal. Supporters see this as the perfect time to move on, but Guardiola and the club kept him. For the fans, that decision now looks like poor planning.
The relationship between Stones and City has been complex. At his best, he is one of the most elegant defenders in world football, capable of breaking lines with his passing, calm under pressure, and intelligent in positioning. Guardiola once described him as “one of the best in the world.” But football doesn’t reward talent alone. Availability is the greatest ability, and Stones has failed to stay on the pitch consistently. His constant absence disrupts the rhythm of the team, forces changes in defence, and leaves gaps in big moments. For a team aiming to dominate Europe and England, this cannot continue.
This is why so many fans believe he is finished. Not because his ability has dropped, but because his body cannot be trusted anymore. They have seen players like Vincent Kompany, another City legend, forced out by recurring injuries. They know how quickly careers at the top can unravel. Stones may not be at that point yet, but the signs are worrying. Fans do not want to keep reliving the same cycle of hope and disappointment.
For Guardiola, the dilemma is painful. He has always shown loyalty to players who fought for him, and Stones has been one of those. He trusted Stones in the biggest matches, and the defender rewarded him with performances that delivered trophies. To give up on him now would be hard for a manager who values relationships. But Guardiola is also a pragmatist. He knows he cannot build another winning cycle with unreliable pillars. Already, fans are watching how he will handle this. Will he keep trusting Stones, or will he start looking at new solutions?
The story has a human side too. For Stones himself, this is heartbreaking. No player wants to be labelled injury prone. No player wants to hear fans calling for them to retire. He has fought his whole career, from Barnsley to Everton to Manchester City, to reach the very top. He has lifted Premier Leagues, FA Cups, League Cups, and a Champions League. He has lived the dream. But to now be considered a burden must weigh heavily on his mind. Professional pride is strong, and players in his position often try to fight back. The question is whether his body will allow him to.
The next few months could decide his entire City future. If he recovers quickly and plays consistently, he might still earn a contract extension. If the injuries continue, this could well be his final season at the Etihad. Fans are already preparing themselves for a goodbye, some with sadness, others with relief. This is how brutal football can be.
The frustration from the stands also reflects a deeper fear. City are in transition. With De Bruyne, Gundogan, Walker, Grealish, and Ederson gone, the dressing room has already lost much of its core. Losing Stones, either physically or permanently, adds to that sense of instability. Fans fear that Guardiola’s empire could be crumbling. They want new leaders, new stability, and players they can trust week in, week out. Stones, sadly, no longer fits that description in their eyes.
What makes the anger worse is the timing. City started the season with three wins, and Stones had started all of them, forming a solid partnership with Ruben Dias. There was hope that maybe this season would be different. Maybe he had finally put the injuries behind him. But one international break later, the old nightmare returned. The disappointment is amplified by hope that was briefly reignited. That is why so many supporters erupted when the news dropped.
The calls for his exit will only grow louder if City struggle defensively in his absence. If Donnarumma and Trafford do their job in goal but the defence in front keeps changing, fingers will be pointed. If City drop points, Stones will be blamed, fairly or not. For fans, patience is gone. They see every injury as a betrayal, as another season slipping away. For them, the future is clear: sell him, move on, find someone new.
And yet, football is unpredictable. A player can go from finished to hero in a matter of months. If Stones recovers and plays a key role in a City title charge, fans will quickly forget these words. That is the cruel beauty of the game. But for now, the atmosphere is toxic. The online reactions, the anger, the accusations—all of it paints a picture of a fanbase that has lost faith in one of its own.
John Stones’ story is no longer just about football. It is about the fragility of careers, the demands of fans, the ruthlessness of top-level sport. It is about a player who has given his best but whose body keeps betraying him. It is about supporters who love success more than sentiment. And it is about a manager who must decide whether loyalty or pragmatism will guide him into the future.
For now, the verdict from fans is harsh and unforgiving. “He’s finished,” they say. And unless Stones can find a way to defy his body and write one more chapter, that verdict may become the reality. Manchester City are moving forward, with or without him.
