John Stones Salary: How Manchester City’s Defensive Rock Earns His Millions
What is John Stones salary at Manchester City in the Premier League?
When John Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016, few could have predicted just how much he would come to embody Pep Guardiola’s evolving vision of modern football. Eight years later, he’s not only one of the most reliable players at the club but also one of the best-paid defenders in the Premier League.
While Stones may not grab the headlines as frequently as Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne, his importance to City’s system is undeniable. And as his salary reflects, the club certainly knows it.
Breaking down John Stones’ wages at Manchester City
Currently tied to a contract that runs through 2026, John Stones earns a handsome weekly wage of £250,000, which translates to approximately £13 million per year. In US dollars, that works out to around $335,000 per week and $17.4 million annually. That’s an elite salary, even in a squad stacked with elite earners.
Despite the impressive numbers, Stones isn’t even among the top five highest-paid players at Manchester City. Still, his salary places him comfortably among the best-paid defenders in world football — and rightly so.
Stones: From expensive gamble to Guardiola’s perfect centre-back
When City spent £47.5 million to sign Stones in 2016, it raised eyebrows. It was a massive fee for a relatively untested 22-year-old defender. But Guardiola saw something special. A ball-playing centre-back with the courage to carry the ball out from the back and the composure to pick a pass under pressure — he was tailor-made for Pep’s philosophy.
In the years since, Stones has matured into one of Europe’s most complete defenders. Injuries and dips in form have tested him, but he’s always responded. In recent seasons, he’s even added another layer to his game, slotting into midfield during build-up play, often acting like a deep-lying playmaker — a rare skill for a centre-back.
That versatility, leadership, and consistency are exactly why City reward him so handsomely.
Top earners at Manchester City: Haaland, De Bruyne, and the rest
Breaking down John Stones’ wages at Manchester City
At Manchester City, there’s a financial hierarchy, and Stones sits just below the top table. Erling Haaland is the club’s top earner by a wide margin. The Norwegian goal machine pockets an eye-watering £525,000 per week, amounting to £27.3 million a year.
Close behind him is midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne, whose weekly wages of £400,000 make him the club’s second-highest-paid star. That translates to over £20.8 million annually.
Next come Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, both earning £300,000 per week, followed closely by Omar Marmoush on £295,000.
| Player | Weekly Wage (£) | Annual Salary (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | £525,000 | £27,300,000 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | £400,000 | £20,800,000 |
| Jack Grealish | £300,000 | £15,600,000 |
| Bernardo Silva | £300,000 | £15,600,000 |
| Omar Marmoush | £295,000 | £15,340,000 |
It’s a star-studded list — but one that doesn’t diminish the value of Stones. He may not be scoring hat-tricks or threading killer through-balls, but he provides the platform for those things to happen.
The Premier League’s top earners: Where does Stones rank?
While John Stones earns more than most players in the Premier League, he’s still outside the league’s top five earners.
Unsurprisingly, Erling Haaland again tops the list. His £525,000-per-week salary leads the way, followed by De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, both on £400,000 per week. Then come Casemiro and Virgil van Dijk, each on £350,000 weekly.
| Player | Club | Weekly Wage (£) | Annual Salary (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | £525,000 | £27,300,000 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | £400,000 | £20,800,000 |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | £400,000 | £20,800,000 |
| Casemiro | Manchester United | £350,000 | £18,200,000 |
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | £350,000 | £18,200,000 |
Stones is comfortably in the next tier, but with a wage of £250,000 per week, he’s not far behind some of the game’s biggest names.
How Stones‘ salary compares globally: The Saudi surge
Even the Premier League’s biggest contracts pale in comparison to the wages now being handed out in the Saudi Pro League.
At the very top of the global earnings chart sits Cristiano Ronaldo, who rakes in a mind-boggling £3.27 million per week at Al Nassr — that’s over £170 million per year. Following him are Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Kalidou Koulibaly, all of whom moved to Saudi Arabia in search of both silverware and substantial paydays.
| Player | Club | Weekly Wage (£) | Annual Salary (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | £3,270,519 | £170,066,890 |
| Karim Benzema | Al Ittihad | £1,635,259 | £85,033,490 |
| Riyad Mahrez | Al Ahli | £853,605 | £44,387,482 |
| Sadio Mane | Al Nassr | £654,104 | £34,013,396 |
| Kalidou Koulibaly | Al Hilal | £567,435 | £29,506,621 |
These figures make even the Premier League’s best-paid players look modest by comparison. Still, the Premier League offers elite competition, legacy, and global exposure — things money alone can’t always buy.
Final thoughts: Is John Stones worth the money?
In a world where defensive contributions are often overshadowed by attacking stats, John Stones quietly gets on with the job of keeping things solid at the back — while also starting moves from deep and stepping into midfield when needed.
At £250,000 a week, he might not be on Haaland’s level financially, but his role is arguably just as important in keeping Manchester City at the top of English and European football.
He’s calm under pressure, tactically intelligent, and trusted implicitly by one of the greatest managers in the game. That’s what Manchester City are really paying for — and they’ll likely feel every penny is worth it.
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