John Stones is heading back to where it all started. Everton are in advanced negotiations to re-sign the 32-year-old centre-back from Manchester City on a free transfer, a decade after selling him for £47.5 million.
For crypto observers, there’s a footnote worth paying attention to: Stones serves as a brand ambassador for Axi, a CFD trading platform that offers leveraged products on digital assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The football side of the story
Stones’ contract at Manchester City expires on June 30, 2026, making him available on a free transfer. Discussions between Everton and Stones’ representatives reached an advanced stage around mid-June, with personal terms reportedly progressing smoothly.
The defender originally joined Everton’s academy setup and made 95 appearances for the club between 2012 and 2016. He then moved to City for a fee that could have risen to £50 million with add-ons, a record-breaking sum at the time for a defender.
