John becomes the fourth signing of summer 2016. Welcome John!
After making his professional debut as a 17-year-old against Reading in March 2012, he went on to make a further 23 appearances over two seasons, playing both at right back and centre half.
Stones helped the Toffees to a club record Premier League points tally in 2013/14 and went on to make 88 appearances in his three seasons on Merseyside.
Barnsley born Stones spent his formative years at his home town club, coming through the Tykes’ academy and signing his first professional contract in December 2011.
After impressing in the latter half of the 2014 campaign, Stones was named on stand-by for England’s World Cup squad and played in the pre-tournament friendlies against Peru and Ecuador.
His competitive debut came in September 2015, as the Three Lions faced Switzerland in the first of their Euro 2016 qualifiers.
This summer, the 22-year-old headed to his first major tournament as part of Roy Hodgson’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad.
That was all it took to convince then Everton manager David Moyes, who signed him for an undisclosed fee on deadline day of the 2013 January transfer window.
Stones scored his first and only Everton goal in the 3-0 over Manchester United in April 2015.
Former boss, Roberto Martinez described Stones as ‘one of the best ball-playing centre-halves in Europe.’
He was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy Award, given to the most impressive young player in Europe. Voted for by sports journalists, new team-mate Raheem Sterling was the eventual winner.
