John Stones helps Inter's Three Lions era start with Monza win
John Stones made his Serie A debut as Inter Milan beat Monza 4-1 on August 23, 2026, giving the club's new 'Three Lions' English contingent a winning start at San Siro. The 32-year-old former Manchester City defender came on as a second-half substitute—the only England international in the squad as late arrivals Djed Spence and Curtis Jones sat out.
Stones, from Thurlstone near Barnsley, joined Inter on a free transfer after his Manchester City contract expired following nine years at the Etihad. He is part of a deliberate English push at the Serie A champions, alongside Spence and Jones, as president Giuseppe Marotta builds around low-cost and high-impact signings.
Key Takeaways
- Inter opened their title defence with a 4-1 win over Monza at San Siro on August 23, 2026.
- John Stones debuted as a second-half substitute, replacing Manuel Akanji, and was warmly received by fans.
- Stones was the only 'Three Lions' member in the squad; Spence and Jones missed out after joining too late for pre-season.
- Stones had scored the winner in a pre-season friendly against Real Betis before his league bow.
- The Barnsley-born defender wears No 6, previously worn by Stefan de Vrij, whom he replaces.
Why Was John Stones the Only 'Three Lions' Player Against Monza?
Inter's new English trio—Stones, Spence and Jones—dubbed the 'Three Lions'—were signed to prolong the club's dominance under head coach Cristian Chivu. Yet only Stones featured against Monza.
Spence, who joined from Tottenham in a reported £30 million deal, appeared pitchside in hospitality but had not integrated through pre-season. Jones, the latest arrival from Liverpool, was similarly absent. Stones had more time to settle, scoring 12 minutes after coming on against Real Betis in Inter's final warm-up match.
Assistant manager Aleksandar Kolarov and fellow defender Akanji, both former City colleagues, are helping Stones adapt to life in Milan. He received a loud ovation when he replaced Akanji on Saturday.
What Happened in Inter's 4-1 Win Over Monza?
The champions began the season in familiar fashion. Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a long-range strike, and Yann Bisseck added a marauding run to the highlight reel. Young forward Pio Esposito scored a deft backheel that underscored Inter's physical edge on a balmy August evening.
Monza were not pushovers. Gustavo Varela rolled Akanji too easily to equalise in the 29th minute, and the visitors could have led at half-time. Inter then shifted through gears Monza could not match, particularly with a squad depleted by injuries and filled with youngsters.
It was the fifth time in eight seasons that Inter scored four or more goals in a season opener—a run stretching from Antonio Conte through Simone Inzaghi to Chivu, who won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia in his first campaign.
How Does Stones Fit Into Inter's Broader Transfer Strategy?
Marotta's free-transfer model brought Stones to San Siro after his City deal expired—a pattern that previously delivered Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and, at Inter, Stefan de Vrij, Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcus Thuram. Stones takes De Vrij's No 6 shirt and is expected to add Premier League intensity alongside Spence and Jones as the club replaces De Vrij, Denzel Dumfries and, in time, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Inter spent more than €100 million in this window for the first time in six years, signalling ambition beyond retaining Serie A. For the owners, the Champions League carries the biggest financial weight—and Stones still carries memories of Inter pushing Manchester City all the way in the 2023 final in Istanbul.
Stones told Inter's website he had "an immense hunger to win more" and could not imagine a better place to begin his next chapter. After the Monza win, he sprinted between San Siro's towers during a warm-down, signed autographs for hospitality guests, and left with spirits high. For more on English stars making headlines abroad, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub. Full match context is available via The Athletic.