It has been three decades since the landmark Bosman ruling, which significantly changed football.
Among the most notable impacts was the introduction of free agency. Players can move to other clubs without transfer fees once their contracts expire.
This means that clubs might lose valuable players without receiving any financial compensation when their contracts end.
Many high-profile names have recently entered free agency, waiting to write the next chapter of their careers. With the summer transfer window now closed, these players are even more valuable, representing the final chance for clubs to strengthen their squads until January.
We have selected a starting eleven using the commonly employed 4-2-3-1 formation.
GK: Neto
It’s only been two years since Neto was finishing up a campaign in which he kept seven clean sheets in 32 appearances to help Bournemouth to a respectable 12th-place Premier League finish. Since then, he’s been a back-up goalkeeper at Arsenal and returned to his native Brazil with Botafogo.
But at 37 years old, Neto was released earlier in the summer and is now looking for his next club. His vast experience will surely be attractive to a number of clubs.
Honourable mentions: Sergio Rico
RB: Dani Carvajal
Speaking of experience, they don’t come with much more pedigree than four-time Spanish and six-time European champion Dani Carvajal. Now 34, the right-back — who has also won European Championship and Nations League titles with Spain — is without a club after his glittering 451-game spell at Real Madrid ended.
Carvajal and compatriot Joselu have been training at the Spanish Football Federation’s facilities to stay fit over the summer. Even if nobody in Europe wants to call on his wisdom, you’d have to assume he’ll be an attractive proposition for a Saudi Pro League or MLS club.
Honourable mentions: Ricardo Pereira, Matteo Darmian
CB: Francesco Acerbi
We’re sticking with experience in the defence. Francesco Acerbi has enjoyed a wonderful late career, only rising to true prominence well past when others are usually peaking, but going on to win the Euros with Italy, and Serie A and Coppa Italia titles with Inter and Lazio.
Acerbi is now 38 and as a free agent, his next step remains to be seen.
Honourable mentions: Chris Smalling, Jannik Vestergaard
CB: David Alaba
David Alaba has won it all with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, and he even managed to return to fitness in time to make four impressive appearances at the World Cup for Austria this summer.
At 34 years old, Alaba will feel he still has plenty to offer in the right environment.
Honourable mentions: Diogo Leite, Adam Webster
LB: Raphael Guerreiro
There have always been defensive concerns, but given his technical ability and eye for goal, Raphael Guerreiro is sure to be high on many clubs’ lists as they scour the free agent market in the autumn.
Just last season, the former Portugal international notched six goals and three assists in 25 combined Bundesliga and Champions League appearances for Bayern Munich and is even more valuable given he can play at both left back and central midfield. He surely cannot stay without a club for long.
Honourable mentions: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Tyrell Malacia
DM: Yves Bissouma
Knee and muscle injuries curtailed Yves Bissouma’s 2025/26 season with Tottenham. That makes him something of a risk, with clubs having to weigh up whether he’s fit enough to make a serious impact.
But Bissouma is still only 29 years old and, at his best, can be a brilliantly destructive force and a willing runner at the base of midfield.
Fulham, Celtic, Rangers and former club Brighton have all been credited with an interest during the course of this summer.
Honourable mention: Marcelo Brozovic, Ismael Bennacer
CM: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba’s return to football lasted just six games as he failed to make an impact at Monaco. The Frenchman is once again looking for a new club and while his technical ability is absolutely not in question, it’s his fitness that will define at what level he can make an impact.
Honourable mention: Georginio Wijnaldum, Renato Sanches
AM: Philippe Coutinho
It’s only been just over a year since Philippe Coutinho was no longer an Aston Villa player, returning to his native Brazil last summer to join Vasco da Gama.
The homecoming paid off reasonably well, with the ex-Liverpool star registering 17 goals and seven assists in 81 appearances during his second spell with Vasco. However, that wasn’t enough to keep player and club together, with Coutinho once again left weighing up his options.
Honourable mentions: Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ryotaro Ito, James Rodriguez
RW: Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez left Al-Ahli this summer, but looks set to remain in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Shabab on the verge of announcing his signing once a few hurdles are cleared. Mahrez featured for Algeria at the World Cup this summer and still has plenty of quality to offer to the Pro League.
Honourable mentions: Bertrand Traore, Raheem Sterling
LW: Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho’s ill-fated time at Old Trafford is finally over. The 23-time England international was supposed to be his country’s next great thing, but has utterly failed to hit the heights. In truth, he stopped being a true Man Utd player in January 2024 when he re-joined Borussia Dortmund on loan. He’s since spent further temporary spells with Chelsea and Aston Villa — showing some of his quality with the former and winning the Europa League with the latter.
Sancho is still just 26 years old and won’t be short of offers. Does he want to prove a point in Europe or go in search of Saudi and MLS riches? We’ll have to wait and see, but either way, he’s comfortably the most valuable player on the free agent market right now.
Honourable mentions: Wilfried Zaha, Willian
ST: Karim Benzema
As mentioned, Joselu is currently a free agent and has made the biggest impact most recently in Europe. But in terms of a massive name, they don’t come any bigger than Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman has spent the last three years in the Saudi Pro League, first with Al-Ittihad and then with Al-Hilal, notching 64 goals in 99 appearances for the two clubs combined.
Benzema is now 38 years old and certainly wouldn’t be able to replicate his Real Madrid brilliance if he returned to Europe, but there will still be those who could be tempted to see if he can make an impact from the bench.
Honourable mentions: Joselu, Anthony Martial, Mauro Icardi
