There are very few defenders who are as good on the ball as John Stones. The English defender has made for himself as one of the best ball-playing center-backs in the game and will look to give his best as he takes to the field for England tonight. Stones has come a long way since his childhood considering football wasn’t even his first option.

According to his parents Pete and Janet Stones, John was a quiet child who did not interact a lot with others. Growing up in Thurlstone, many described him as the quietest and the sportiest kid on the block. His early years at the Penistone Grammar School saw him pick up golf before he transitioned to soccer joining Barnsley’s youth system. The player started as a right back before he transitioned into a center back.

However, things were difficult for the English star, as he lacked the physical strength to play in the center of defense. While many of his coaches suggested he stick to operating at the flanks, Stones continued to push himself and excel as a central defender. His success at Barnsley saw him move to Everton, where he played for 3 years before making a move to Manchester City in 2016.

Stones was in a long-term relationship with ex-partner Millie Savage before the two suddenly called it a day in 2019. However, just weeks after the split, John Stones was in a new relationship. The player has been dating his partner Olivia Naylor for the past 5 years with the couple giving birth to their first child earlier this year.

John Stones criticized by his ex-partner, who claimed he grew a second head

While things have been smooth sailing for John Stones after his break-up, his former partner Millie Savage isn’t too pleased with how things turned out. Savage ripped into Stones following their breakup as she claimed, “Footballers are treated as gods and John bought into it wholeheartedly after the World Cup. He let fame get into his head. For footballers, the rules of normal life become blurred. We are just mortals to them, but in reality, it is like looking after a child who has no concept of how the real world works.”

Meanwhile, John Stones has kept himself away from any talks concerning his ex-girlfriend. The player seems quite happy in his current relationship and is quite focused on making it work with Olivia Naylor and their newborn child. It seems like the couple wants to have a peaceful life and Stones has been taking all the steps to head in the right direction.