“I’ve got chills” – John Stones sends emotional message to Manchester City fans | OneFootball

John Stones has issued an emotional message to Manchester City supporters for their unwavering support for him during his Etihad Stadium career to date.

For more than a decade, Stones has been a central figure in the modern City era, experiencing the highs of historic success and the challenges that come with performing at the very top level.

Through it all, the England international defender has repeatedly spoken of the role that Manchester City’s supporters have played in helping him grow, adapt, and ultimately thrive under intense scrutiny.

Having arrived at the club in the summer of 2016 from Everton, John Stones’ journey has mirrored Manchester City’s own evolution under Catalan tactician Pep Guardiola. From early debates around his ball-playing approach to becoming a symbol of tactical innovation, the Barnsley-born star has forged a deep bond with fans who stood by him through every stage.

Speaking during the latest episode of Manchester City’s official club podcast, John Stones has now issued a message of gratitude to the club’s global fanbase, and those who follow the club home and away, following their long-standing support for him personally.

“When I first came [to the club], there was a new manager [in Pep Guardiola], new style of play. How they dealt with that, the manner they did, was [with] positivity and getting right behind us. They believed in it and it made everyone believe in it. It’s rare to have that,” said Stones.

He continued, “[You can see] the love everywhere we go around the world, [from] the fans who travel around the world.

“Asking me as a kid in the garden – ‘You’re going to play [for City], fans are going to sing your name, you’re going to have an incredible relationship with them, you’re going to parade a Champions League trophy with them, singing your name, stopping you in the street’.

“I’ve got chills, it’s something you can’t [describe]. It’s what you dream about, so I’m forever grateful for how they’ve treated me at the Club and I love them for everything I’ve just said and more.”

In a concluding message, Stones said, “My dreams have come true and I’m glad I could do it with them as well because their support doesn’t go unnoticed, especially from me.”

Such words reflect a career that has seen John Stones grow into one of the defining players of the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City. After initially arriving from Goodison Park, he overcame periods of injury and doubt to re-establish himself as a leader at the heart of City’s defence, most notably alongside Rúben Dias during the 2020/21 campaign.

More recently, his reinvention into a hybrid defender-midfielder role has underlined his football intelligence and adaptability, playing a crucial part in Manchester City’s domestic dominance and their maiden UEFA Champions League triumph.

For supporters who have watched his journey unfold, John Stones’ emotional message will no doubt as a powerful reminder that their backing has helped shape not just trophies, but careers and memories at the Etihad Stadium.