Everton manager Roberto Martinez has taken positives from last summer's transfer saga involving John Stones by claiming that the defender has 'grown as a person' as a result.
The England international was the subject of numerous bids from Chelsea, but Everton held firm and refused a transfer.
The player himself is said to have submitted a transfer request at the time, but Martinez has insisted that Stones is now focused on his duties with the Merseyside outfit.
"100% - everything that went on in the summer helped John grow as a person and a player," Martinez told reporters.
"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."
Stones, who was recently linked with a switch to Barcelona, is expected to play in this afternoon's clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Danielle Joynson
