Back in August 2022, he was rightly considered one of the finest ball-playing centre backs in Europe. Nine months later, he was playing a starring role at both full-back and in Pep Guardiola’s midfield as City were named Champions of Europe for the first time in our history.
The defender completed all seven of his dribble attempts in that memorable 1-0 triumph over Inter, with only Lionel Messi (x2), Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho able to match that success rate on Europe’s showpiece occasion.
Stones was rubbing shoulders with three of the finest attacking players of this millennium on the biggest stage, according to figures such as these, and the fact that he had the best dribble success rate of any player in the 2022/23 Champions League to attempt at least 10 take-ons (91% - 10/11) reinforces that notion.
Time and again, the England international has demonstrated a remarkable footballing intelligence to complement his obvious technical and defensive prowess.
Indeed, Opta data shows that across the 31 matches he started in all competitions, his nominal starting position was at centre-back on 13 occasions, defensive midfield 11 times and right-back for seven matches.
Beginning the season in the heart of defence, Stones featured in six of our opening seven Premier League matches before being side-lined with a hamstring injury.
During that time, however, he would occasionally feature at full-back, including in our 2-1 Champions League triumph over Dortmund, where his stunning long-range strike would spark a dramatic late turnaround at the Etihad Stadium.
Returning to the side in late October after recovering from injury, the England international started each of his nation’s five matches at the World Cup the following month as the Three Lions reached the quarter-finals.
However, like City, Stones really came into his element once the Club season resumed.
Pep Guardiola’s men were in truly outstanding form in the second half of the campaign, and the defender was at the centre of that success.
City didn’t lose a single game with Stones in the starting XI after the conclusion of the World Cup, with 17 wins and four draws in all competitions from 21 matches. The only time he ended up on the losing side when starting in 2022/23 was in a 2-1 reverse against Brentford in November.
He would demonstrate his typical blend of style and substance throughout those dramatic final few months of the campaign, with a classy display in midfield against Liverpool followed by a steely performance at centre-half against Arsenal three weeks later – a match in which he also found the net.
Guardiola’s updated system was bringing the best out of Stones, a cultured defender with an eye for a pass, and City were reaping the benefits.
His 77% success rate for long pass attempts was the best mark of any player to attempt at least 50 in the Premier League last season (64/84).
Furthermore, of players to attempt at least 1,000 passes, only City compatriot Manuel Akanji could better the 93.3% which found the England international’s intended target.
Visions of Stones picking up play in tight areas of the pitch before finding a team-mate or skipping away from the attentions of Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu on the edge of the box during the Champions League final were, by this point, commonplace for supporters who had witnessed his transformation in 2023.
However, to talk solely of the defender’s technical prowess would detract from his ‘traditional’ defensive attributes, and his overall commitment to the cause.
Opta figures show that Stones won 67.3% of his duels in the Premier League in 2022/23 (70/104), the best total of any Manchester City outfielder, and demonstrated the steel he possesses to complement his obvious silk.
Strength, timing, speed, composure and technical quality – the England international has proven once again that he has it all.
Before this season, the 29-year-old’s standout campaign at the Etihad Stadium was, perhaps, during 2020/21 when he was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year having forged an incredible defensive partnership with Ruben Dias.
His contribution to our historic 2022/23 campaign, for many, eclipse the England international’s outstanding achievements from two years ago.
Whether it be at centre-back, full-back or in the midfield, he’s consistently proven his worth to Pep Guardiola’s side in a season that will forever be etched in football history.
His surname might be Stones, but he’s been worth his weight in gold.
