Free Agents FC: The Superstar XI Available for Nothing in 2026

Free Agents FC: The Players Available For Nothing At The End Of The 25/26 Season

In the football market today, the sheer volume of eye-wateringly large sums of money being exchanged for players in the modern era is simply staggering.

Take Liverpool as an example. Arne Slot's champions are normally shrewed operators in the transfer market, but treated themselves to a spree of money-spinning new arrivals whilst breaking the British transfer record with the signing of Florain Wirtz, only to immediately break it again with the dramatic recruitment of Newcastle United star Alex Isak.

🚨 Players whose contracts expire in the summer of 2026:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Marc Guéhi
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 John Stones
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ryan Sessegnon
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Maguire
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Callum Wilson
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Danny Welbeck
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Danny Ings
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Kieran Trippier
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 James Garner
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nick Pope
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Winks
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rico Henry
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Harry Wilson
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Ben Davies
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿…

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 16, 2025

So in many ways, the art of the free transfer can now more than ever be deemed as one of the most important mediums of transfer business around. There has been plenty of astute additions to many a squad for no club-to-club cost over recent years, such as the complimentary arrival of former Torino fullback Ola Aina to Nottingham Forest, or mega-star Zlatan Ibrahimovic making his way to Manchester United if we go back a little further.

As contract rumours begin to heat up on the rundown towards the January transfer window, there are plenty of star players around Europe who are available for nothing this summer, and can be available on Bosman rulings this winter. In fact, you could put together an entire starting eleven of wonderful players around the world, at no cost barring wages! So... that's what we've done.

Free O' Charge: The Potential Free Agent XI Next Season

Goalkeeper - Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

After Chelsea reportedly turned down the chance to bring the French shot-stopper to Stamford Bridge in the summer window just gone by, perhaps they or other suitors may fancy the opportunity to bring Maignan in for no extra cost?

The now-30-year-old made a name for himself in his domestic France with LOSC Lille, and has played a starring role for both Milan since a 2021 move and for the French national team since the retirement of Hugo Lloris in January 2023, earning 36 caps overall. He's earmarked as one of the better goalkeepers in all of Europe, and you would imagine Milan are doing what they can to keep the Frenchman around. They should be, anyway.

Right-Back - Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

A player that needs little introduction, as his CV easily does the talking for him.

Over 400 Real Madrid appearances. 26 major honours alongside them, including six Champions League titles wherein Carvajal struck a vital goal in the final to help win one. 2 major trophies with his nation of Spain.

Sure, at the age of 33 his back might be starting to ache and his knees starting to click, but Carvajal is a stalwart of the game that still promises excellent value in return for no transfer fee at all.

Centre-Back - Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

It is fair to say that injuries have had the better of Dayot Upamecano over recent years, but his sheer ability has never really been in doubt.

A pacey, physical defender who makes up for his sometimes-sub-par defensive intelligence with outlandish physical attributes, the 34-times-capped France international is entering into his prime years, and will be at the age of just 27 years old at the time of his current Bayern Munich contract expiring.

He's started five Bundesliga matches for Bayern so far this season and has looked at his best in recent fixtures, so you would imagine that the Bavarian heavyweights would be keen to tie him down to a new deal sooner rather than later. If not, however, then they risk losing an excellent player in his prime stages to another European giant.

Centre-Back - Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

Do you reckon Steve Parish will check his emails this time, if any Bosman contracts come flying in for the mercurial talent of Marc Guehi this winter? Probably not - it is Steve Parish after all.

But the fact of the matter is that Marc Guehi has all the earmarks of one of Europe's elite defenders, if he gets thrust onto a full and mighty stage with an elite European club. Liverpool tried to bring the England international to Anfield last summer, but Palace suitably dug their heels in as they did when Newcastle United came sniffing around earlier before that.

They'll keep Guehi for their historic UEFA Conference League campaign, which is a huge boost, but it does not look like Guehi is going to stick around at Selhurst Park beyond his current deal. Will Liverpool get their chance to bring him in, only this time for free? It would be amongst the best value-for-money (or lack thereof) deals of all time, if so.

Left-Back - Andy Robertson (Liverpool)

Is it ridiculous to say that, in his prime, 'Robbo' was up there with the very best left-backs in the history of the Premier League?

Whether is is or is not, few can deny Robertson of the quality he possessed in his hay-day. He might not be the first name on the team-sheet these days after the shiny new arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, but at the age of 31 Robertson still had quality that many teams would benefit from having, even if his best moments (as many Liverpool fans would reluctantly agree with) are behind him.

He's a hell of a character, so it will be interesting to see if Arne Slot is willing to let one of his predecessor's heroes make their way out of the club free of charge.

Central Midfield - Luka Modric (AC Milan)

So what if he's a bajillion years old now? If Luka Modric says he still has fuel in the tank, then by God he still has fuel in the tank.

The Croatia and Real Madrid legend is one of global football's truest superstars. With a Ballon d'Or the mightiest of his individual achievements, Modric has left fans and neutrals alike drooling over his abilities and stand-out moments for years and years. Even at the age of 40, he's shown few signs of slowing down at the San Siro this season, where he made his way to on a one-year contract after 13 incredible years with Real Madrid.

With a shed-load of major honours and beautiful moments in the wake of his career, Modric has the capacity to provide more until he says he physically cannot any longer.

Central Midfield - N'Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad)

A silent midfield killer, who's wholesome demeanour has left many a midfielder off their guard before being outran and outmatched by a true Premier League legend.

The French workhorse is still going strong over in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad, whom he won a league and cup double with last season whilst also still being a part of the France squad under Didier Deschamps (barring the latest squad). He may be 34 years old now, but a full-fitness Kante remains a terrifying battle to comprehend with as a rival midfielder. If his sizable salary is cut short this summer, and he leaves Saudi Arabia, Kante would still be one hell of a pick-up for almost anyone in Europe.

Attacking Midfield - Nabil Fekir (Al-Jazira)

Another European great who has made their way into the Middle East for a payday-laden career Twilight, Nabil Fekir currently plys his trade out in the United Arab Emirates for Al-Jazira of the top-flight.

His truly demonic days are behind him - nobody will soon forget his 17/18 campaign for Lyon - but at the age of 32 Fekir could still offer plenty to any side in Europe and beyond, should he wish to vacate the sunshine and likely-eye-watering salary to take on the challenge.

Right-Wing - Harry Wilson (Fulham)

It felt, weirdly, like it took a fair while for Harry Wilson's career to really get going.

On the books at Liverpool since the age of 8, the Welsh winger embarked on successful loan spell after successful loan spell going into the 2020's, with his time at Derby County in the Championship under Frank Lampard remaining the stuff of legend across that side of the East Midlands. He got a chance in the Premier League on loan with Bournemouth and did well, only to return to the Championship on another two loan deals afterwards - once with Cardiff City and the other with Fulham.

The latter move was made permanent for Wilson after helping them back to the Premier League in 2022, and the now-28-year-old never really looked back having made 137 league appearances for The Cottagers and turning them into a solid top-flight outfit.

It seems likely that Marco Silva's side will look to keep Wilson on for the years to come, but if they don't then the Welshman would still be an astute pickup for many in the Premier League and beyond.

Left-Wing - Adama Traore (Fulham)

Adama Traore has always been a funny one. The man is built like a fridge-freezer full of nothing but roadkill and protein powder and has the speed and power of a small, Spanish meteor, and at times holds the ball-carrying ability and technical grace of an AC-130, or perhaps a small family home.

However, few on earth can hold a candle to Adama and his physical attributes, which is maybe why he has been able to have so many solid years in the Premier League. This baby-oil-soaked right-wing cruise missile is into the last year of his contract with Fulham this season, and can still provide something very different for anyone at this level.

Striker - Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)

His best days are surely behind him, and it would be a massive surprise to see Karim Benzema step away from Saudi Arabia and back into the European limelight, but good lord what a player he was on his day.

Another Ballon d'Or winner to add to this star-studded list, Benzema's days at Real Madrid are the stuff of legend (though one Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't have agreed to that at one stage).

He had to wait for his best years to come around at the Santiago Bernabeau, for sure, but Karim Benzema is a legendary figure of the modern-ish game. Could he replicate those years if someone were to pick him up upon the end of his contract this season? Almost certainly not, but Benzema would be a cool pick-up even if it is just for marketing purposes.