Manchester City Transfer News: John Stones Appears in UEFA Squad Amid Rumours

Manchester City's long-expected purchase of Everton centre-back John Stones was inadvertently confirmed by UEFA before the official announcement from the clubs involved came later on Tuesday. 

The England international was included in City's official squad list on UEFA's website ahead of their Champions League qualifying play-off with Steaua Bucharest, via ESPN FC:

UEFA said in a statement issued in response that Stones had been included in the group it received from City, via the Times' Paul Hirst:

And soon after the squad list emerged, City officially confirmed the signing of Stones on their Twitter feed:

The Times' Oliver Kay previously reported that City would pay £50 million for Stones, 22, ahead of the start of the new Premier League season on Saturday.

Stones has long been touted as a key target for new City manager Pep Guardiola, and he will likely drop straight into the middle of the Sky Blues defence at the Etihad Stadium, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Under manager Roberto Martinez at Everton in 2015-16, Stones did not advance as many expected and made a number of glaring errors in defence, per WhoScored.com:

However, he is excellent on the ball and can distribute well from deep, qualities Guardiola has historically prized in defenders, per Sky Sports News HQ:

The Spanish manager will likely be confident he can iron out the errors in Stones' game and develop him into one of the world's top centre-backs.

The youngster has huge ability, and he will surely improve his composure and confidence as he gains more experience, as is usually the case with defenders.

Stones joins a centre-back department at City that currently includes Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala and potentially Fernando if, as Tighe expects, Guardiola utilises the Brazilian as a defender in a back three. 

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Kompany is a perennial injury concern, and Stones will provide necessary quality as cover for the Belgium international.

Frenchman Mangala, 25, has not progressed as expected since his £32 million move to City from Porto in 2014.

Per the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, Guardiola is "desperate" to find a buyer for Mangala, as he will have little role to play in the City squad with Stones now at the club.

Mokbel added that Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas could all also be moved on from the Etihad, with Stones joining Leroy Sane, Nolito and Ilkay Gundogan as Guardiola's key summer signings as he reshapes the squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini.