Inter closes in on Stones as English defender heads to Milan

Inter are closing in on signing John Stones as a free transfer after the Manchester City defender left the English club in June, according to The Guardian. The 32-year-old has been in advanced talks with the Serie A champions and appears set to move to Milan. Stones shone for England at the 2026 World Cup, helping the team reach the final, and told the press that he still feels he has much to give at club level.

The move represents a significant defensive reinforcement for Inter as the club continues to reshape its squad ahead of the 2026-27 season. Stones brings Champions League experience and a proven track record at the highest level of English and European football. At 32, he remains physically capable of performing at the top level, as his recent World Cup performances demonstrated.

Inter's pursuit of Stones comes as the club also enters talks with Tottenham over the signing of Argentine captain Cristian Romero, according to The Guardian. Romero helped Argentina reach a second straight World Cup final this summer. The dual interest in elite defenders suggests Inter is prioritizing defensive solidity as it seeks to maintain its Serie A dominance and compete for European honours.

Stones' arrival on a free transfer allows Inter to add experience without a significant outlay, a pragmatic move that reflects the financial constraints facing even Italy's richest clubs. The English defender's move to Serie A also signals the continued appeal of Italian football to aging stars seeking high-profile final chapters in their careers. For Inter, the signing represents a calculated gamble: a short-term boost in defensive quality from a player at the twilight of his peak years.