Man City’s John Stones Admits He Considered Retirement After Injury Troubles

Manchester City defender John Stones has revealed he briefly contemplated retiring from football last season following a series of injuries that limited his playing time.

The 31-year-old, who managed just 11 Premier League appearances in the 2024/2025 campaign, struggled with recurring foot and hamstring problems, the latter keeping him sidelined from February.

Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live, Stones admitted the constant setbacks left him mentally drained and questioning his future in the game.

“Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping,” the England international said.
“I had done everything right — training, recovery, diet — and yet I kept breaking down without answers. It was a really difficult place to be in.”

Stones, who joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016, has never featured in more than 27 league games in a single season due to fitness issues. Despite that, he remains a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s setup, though the Spaniard currently favours Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol as his preferred defensive pairing.

After missing England duty for almost a year, Stones has now earned a recall under new manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the friendly against Wales at Wembley and a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on October 14. A win in Riga would seal England’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Reflecting on his struggles, Stones said the mental toll was harder to deal with than the physical pain.

“There comes a point where you don’t know why it keeps happening,” he explained.
“It’s even tougher when you’re doing everything right and still can’t stay fit. Hopefully, I never go back to that place again.”

Despite his earlier doubts, the experienced centre-back insists he never truly lost his fighting spirit.

“My emotions were high, and I wasn’t thinking straight,” Stones admitted. “But deep down, I knew I wouldn’t quit.

I’ve always been a fighter — that’s how I’ve lived since I was a kid. Why should I stop now?”