John Stones admits he nearly quit football last season | OneFootball

John Stones has revealed he came close to quitting football last season after a series of injuries left him mentally drained and questioning his future in the game.

The Manchester City defender endured a frustrating 2024-25 campaign, making just 11 Premier League appearances before a hamstring problem ended his season in February.

He described the past two years as ‘dark days’ and admitted he reached a point where he no longer enjoyed the process of recovery.

“Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping,” Stones told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right, only to keep breaking down and not having the answers.

“It was a very difficult place to be in. Hopefully, I don’t go back to that place.”

The 31-year-old has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, missing more than ten games in each of the last three campaigns.

Since joining City from Everton in 2016, Stones has made 283 appearances and won six Premier League titles. Injuries have prevented him from playing more than 27 league matches in a single season.

“There comes a point where you don’t know why it happens,” he added. “It is even harder when you are doing everything right and it still goes wrong. That makes it mentally challenging.”

Despite his setbacks, Stones has started five matches this season and remains one of the senior figures in Pep Guardiola’s squad, even though he has often preferred Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in defence.

“My emotions were high,” Stones said. “I wasn’t thinking straight. Deep down, I don’t think I would have ever done it.

“I said years ago when City wanted me to have a new challenge, I told myself I was going to fight. That’s all I have known since I was a kid, so why should I stop now?”

The England international, who has earned 83 caps, has been recalled to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for October’s fixtures after missing last month’s games with a minor injury.

England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday before travelling to Riga to meet Latvia in a World Cup qualifier next Tuesday.