John Stones: England and Man City defender considered retiring because of injury

England and Manchester City defender John Stones, said he was thinking of retirement due to injury last season.

Stones made only 11 Premier League matches due to foot and hamstring problems, and the second ended the season in February.

He represented England in the five 31 -year -old tournament, but since October 2024, he did not play for three lions, and Thomas Tuchel worked as an administrator in January.

Stones is friendly to Wales in Wembley on Thursday and on Tuesday, October 14 against the World Cup qualification against Latvia (both 19:45 BST).

The victory in Riga will be replaced by Britain in the next Summer World Cup finals organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“It was hard for me last season, until the point I thought to stop,” Stones said to BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I didn’t want to do this. I tried to be so professional and to do everything with my strength, then I continued to disintegrate and continued to get answers. It was a very difficult place to be in it.”

The injuries prevented more than 27 matches in a single league campaign for City, which he attended from Everton in 2016.

“There is a point you don’t know why, and it’s even harder to play and be more difficult to play when you make so much effort.”

“It would be easier to say, ‘I didn’t do it’ when it came and when something happened – but when you do it, then it is mentally difficult. I hope I don’t go back to that place.”

Stones made five beginnings this season, but Manchester City director Pep Guardiola seems to prefer a partnership of Ruben Dias and Josko Gardiol.

“My feelings were high. I wasn’t thinking straight. [retired]”Stones said.

“When City asked me to make a new challenge years ago, I said, ‘I will fight.’

“So yes, I have a winner mentality that doesn’t want to stop.”