#3 John Stones (to Manchester City for €55.6 million)
Perhaps one of the best English defenders to show potential since John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, Stones is standing at the crossroads of his fledgling career. Yet something hasn’t gone right for the former Everton man in the last year. Defensive howlers which aren’t expected of Premier League players was committed multiple times by the young Englishman that ultimately led to Everton’s downfall.
This new season his was given a way out of Everton by City who broke their own records of the most expensive English player (Raheem Sterling) as well the most expensive defender (Elaquim Mangala). While City aren’t new to splashing the cash on English prodigies to fill their home grown quota, John Stones has to repay Guardiola’s as well as Manchester City’s faith in him by delivering top-notch performances in the heart of City’s porous back line.
It is yet to be seen whether he is Vincent Kompany’s ideal successor or partner, bearing a 50+ million price tag is no easy task for any player let alone John Stones.
