Juventus Step Up Transfer Pursuit of England Defender John Stones

Juventus’ pursuit of John Stones appears to be moving from rumor to negotiation. Transfer reporter Luca Bendoni of Sky Sport said on July 26 that the club is “exploring conditions” for a possible deal and has made serious contact over the former Manchester City defender, while Bendoni added that Premier League teams also remain interested. Stones, 32, became available after his City contract expired at the end of June, following a 10-year spell with 294 appearances and 20 major trophies. He won six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League, credited for adapting from central defense into midfield. Concerns remain about salary demands and injury history. In his final season at City, he managed nine Premier League appearances and 18 matches overall, and didn’t start a league game after October. Juventus now must weigh how much risk it will accept alongside Europa League budget pressure after missing the Champions League.