Manchester City signed John Stones from Everton for 47.5 million pounds ($61.7 million) on Tuesday (August 9), making the England international the world's second most expensive defender.

The 22-year-old agreed a six-year contract to join City as new manager Pep Guardiola continued a major overhaul of his squad in a bid to reclaim the Premier League title they last won in 2014.

"John is an excellent young English defender and we are all really pleased he is joining us," City director of football Txiki Begiristain told the club website.

"We have worked hard to bring him to City and we feel we are signing one of the best central defenders in Europe."

Stones, who joined Everton from Barnsley in 2013 for three million pounds, is football's second costliest defender after Brazilian David Luiz, who moved from Chelsea to Paris St Germain for 50 million pounds in 2014.

Stones became Guardiola's eighth signing of the transfer window after midfielders Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Aleksandar Zinchenko, Aaron Mooy and Marlos Moreno along with forwards Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus.

Stones's name appeared in City's Champions League squad which was published on the UEFA website hours before the transfer was confirmed. The club admitted the mistake was a "huge embarrassment".

He could make his debut in City's opening Premier League game at home to Sunderland on Saturday (August 13).