Barnsley criticise Moyes for wrongful John Stones claim

Barnsley have slammed former Everton manager David Moyes for the claims he made regarding the fee John Stones was sold for.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday programme, Moyes claimed he had bought Stones from the Tykes for a fee far lower than what was reported.

“I laugh when people say we paid £3m for John Stones. It was £1.25m,” said the Scot.

This comment spurred fans’ criticism of the club which forced the Tykes to issue a statement strongly rebutting what Moyes had said.

“Barnsley FC has been asked by a significant number of fans to clarify the situation regarding the recent comments made by David Moyes on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday and attributed to him on the Mirror website on 14 February 2016 and elsewhere, regarding the fee paid by Everton for the transfer of John Stones from our club,” the statement said.

“Ordinarily, we would not comment on matters of speculation, but the article on the Mirror website carries the headline, ‘David Moyes reveals Everton paid just £1.25 million to sign John Stones from Barnsley’.

“The amount paid by Everton to Barnsley is Commercial in Confidence, and we would have expected that David Moyes would be bound by that obligation of confidentiality to his former employer.

“However, given the categoric nature of the assertion made, it is incumbent on Barnsley FC to correct such a statement when it is markedly and unequivocally wrong and yet is made by someone that the public might think is authoritative on the subject.

“This is particularly the case since he has cited the same erroneous fee on previous occasions also. David Moyes played no part in any negotiation with Barnsley FC concerning the transfer of John Stones, which may explain why he is mistaken as to the fee paid,” the Barnsley statement concluded.

England international Stones signed for the Toffees in the January transfer window in 2013 for an undisclosed fee. Barnsley have sinced refused to disclose information regarding the deal, though multiple sources believe the transfer was worth £3m.

Young blood: Stones made his debut for the Tykes in 2011, moving to Goodison two years later (photo by Action Images / John Clifton)