Chelsea transfer saga made a man of John Stones, purrs Everton manager Roberto Martinez

Roberto Martinez claims last summer’s transfer saga made John Stones into “a man”.

Martinez says Stones matured during those testing weeks as Everton rejected his attempts to push through a £38million move to Chelsea.

The England defender eventually accepted Everton’s decision and Martinez feels the episode has been the making of him.

“One hundred per cent, everything that went on in the summer helped John grow as a person and a player,” said the Blues boss.

“You need to understand the human side of a footballer gets heavily tested in a period like that. You get a lot of influences and some influences were wrong from the outside and they affect you

“We have seen in many dressing rooms how players get affected and disturbed. I think that John from day one had a really good supportive group of people, especially the players in the dressing room and everyone at the football club to help him. It has been a very important period for his development.

“Psychologically he has become a man in a very short period of time and a footballer who knows how to cope with high-pressure situations and be able to perform on the pitch.

“He is an important player, he is our No 5 and to be No 5 at a club like Everton is quite significant at such a young age.

“And it’s not just the way he is developing as a defender, but the way he is developing as a leader. He’s someone who can affect the players around him.”

Although Everton are adamant there is no uncertainty over Stones’ future as he finally goes to Chelsea today, Martinez admitted there is still no progress on his contract talks.

Martinez insists it is not an issue and dismissed suggestions that Stones’ camp are reluctant to engage in negotiations.

“We have a really good relationship with John’s people because they have got another six players in the first-team squad,” said the Spaniard. “It’s not an issue.

“He is still on a long-term contract and nothing has changed.

“Any player who performs well in the first team, we are a football club that wants to reward that good work on the pitch and that will never change.