Man City Star Breaks Down Over Relentless Injury Nightmare: "I've Had Enough"
Manchester City defender John Stones reveals he contemplated ending his career last season due to frustration with persistent injury problems.
Stones has a history of fitness concerns, but the 2024–25 season represented his most challenging period regarding injuries. Four separate problems caused him to miss 32 matches in total and restricted him to only six Premier League starting appearances.
Throughout the campaign, Stones couldn't string together four consecutive appearances, with new problems repeatedly forcing him back to the treatment room, leading the 31-year-old to consider calling time on his playing days.
"Last season was incredibly difficult for me, to the extent that I contemplated quitting," Stones revealed to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I had lost the desire to continue. I was exhausted from being so dedicated and attempting to do everything correctly within my control, only to keep suffering setbacks without finding solutions. It was an extremely challenging mental space to occupy."
Stones's feelings arose from an extended struggle with physical problems. Since emerging at Everton in 2012, he has been absent for 137 matches across all competitions, with those missed games resulting from at least 22 separate injury concerns.
John Stones' Minutes per Premier League Season at Man City
* Current season
Season | Minutes | Average Games Played (38 possible) |
|---|---|---|
2025–26* | 264 | 2.93 (7 possible) |
2024–25 | 544 | 6.0 |
2023–24 | 1,061 | 11.7 |
2022–23 | 1,844 | 20.4 |
2021–22 | 1,117 | 12.4 |
2020–21 | 1,933 | 21.4 |
2019–20 | 1,118 | 12.4 |
2018–19 | 1,761 | 19.5 |
2017–18 | 1,301 | 14.4 |
2016–17 | 2,014 | 22.3 |
Since his debut City campaign in 2016–17, Stones hasn't accumulated 2,000 minutes in a single Premier League season, with his 27 league appearances that year still standing as his City record.
"There's a moment when you can't understand why these things occur, and it becomes even more difficult when you invest tremendous effort and maintain the highest professional standards, only to remain unavailable," he explained. "When that situation arises and problems persist, it would be simpler to attribute it to neglecting certain aspects, but when you've done everything right, it becomes mentally taxing. I hope I never return to that mindset."
Looking back on his struggles from last season, Stones added: "My feelings were intense. I wasn't thinking clearly. I don't believe I would have actually gone through with it [retirement] deep down.
"I mentioned years ago when City wanted me to embrace a fresh opportunity, I declared, 'I will persevere.' That determination has defined me since childhood. Why would I abandon that approach now? So yes, that fighting spirit and competitive drive within me refuses to surrender."