Exclusive: John Stones Eyes Bayern Munich Move to Reunite with Vincent Kompany

John Stones is ready to end his glittering Manchester City chapter and reunite with the man he once called his mentor, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The England defender is understood to be open to a summer move to Bayern Munich, where former City captain Vincent Kompany is now building his own legacy in the dugout. 

With significant changes looming at City over the next two transfer windows, Stones is believed to be seriously considering a fresh challenge after more than a decade at the Etihad.

Kompany, long admired in Manchester and previously tipped as a future successor to Pep Guardiola, is said to be a huge admirer of Stones’ composure, versatility and big-game pedigree. And the feeling is mutual.

Stones has never hidden the impact Kompany had on him during his formative years at City, revealing how the Belgian went out of his way to guide him.

“He is a class act,” Stones said. “I remember Vinnie was injured in my first season at Manchester City, and this season, but he got some clips he wanted to help me out with." 

ADVICE

“We got the clips, sat down together and he wanted to give his advice and opinions on these actions." 

“For someone to do that and try to help me as a young player says a lot about the person. I look up to him as a captain and as a friend because of the things he has done for me." 

“We could have just gone about our day normally, said hello, gone for dinner at the training ground, but he wanted to show these clips. We sat down and did a one-on-one." 

“We always talk about games and how we can improve and what he thinks in those situations because he has done it so many times." 

“He’s a born winner. I want to be a winner and learn that from him. The more I play and train with him the more it should rub off.”

Now, there is a real chance that relationship could be rekindled in Bavaria.

Stones, a multiple Premier League winner and Champions League victor, has conquered English football. 

A move to Germany would see him follow England captain Harry Kane in testing himself in the Bundesliga and add another European powerhouse to his CV.

Stones is also attracting significant Premier League interest ahead of the summer, with Crystal Palace understood to be firmly in the mix as they line up a potential replacement for Marc Guéhi following his January move to Manchester City.

STATEMENT

For Kompany, landing Stones would be a statement. 

For Stones, it could be the perfect next step  guided once again by the captain he still looks up to.

Stones is contracted to City until June 2026 after signing a long-term extension in 2021, meaning Bayern could prize him away on a free transfer this summer. 

Since arriving at the Etihad in August 2016 for £47.5million from Everton, then a world-record fee for a defender, he has made 290 appearances in all competitions. 

During that period, he has won multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, League Cups and the Champions League, cementing his place as one of the defining defenders of City’s modern era.

Stones began his senior career at Barnsley, making 26 first-team appearances after progressing through the club’s academy before earning a £3million move to Everton in 2013. 

He went on to play 95 times for the Merseyside club, where his composure on the ball and reading of the game quickly marked him out as one of England’s most promising young centre-backs. 

City’s decisive move three years later underlined just how highly he was rated, and nearly a decade on as a Sky Blue, 87-cap international Stones is now weighing up whether to write the next chapter of his career in Germany.