The summer transfer window is in full swing, but while clubs are spending big, there is always value to be found in the free agent market.
That’s no different this time around, with some truly massive names available for no transfer fee. Here, we’ve listed 12 of the best, along with a whole host of incredible honourable and cult mentions.
1. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah’s incredible spell at Liverpool finally came to an end last season, after 442 games, 257 goals and eight trophies. The Egyptian is in high demand and won’t be a free agent for long, with the latest reports suggesting Turkish giants Besiktas and Trabzonspor are battling for his signature.
2. Dusan Vlahovic
In terms of age and profile, Dusan Vlahovic is the most valuable free agent right now, having left Juventus this summer following 68 goals in 168 games. The rumour mill is surprisingly quiet regarding Vlahovic right now, but the 26-year-old has started to be linked to Manchester United.
3. Jadon Sancho
Speaking of the Red Devils, 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. However, he’s still just 26 and showed flashes of his quality as recently as 2024/25, when on loan at Chelsea. Brentford and former club Dortmund seem interested at present.
4. Fabinho
Fabinho was one of the final pieces of the jigsaw for Jurgen Klopp’s great Liverpool side, but for the past three years, he’s been in the Saudi Pro League. He’s a free agent now and 32 years old, but played three times for Brazil at the World Cup this summer, so he’ll still hold plenty of value in multiple markets. Fabinho has expressed an interest in returning to European football, and has been spending time with family in Madrid since the World Cup.
5. Leon Goretzka
One of the other real big hitters on this list, Leon Goretzka enjoyed a resurgence last season with Bayern Munich, registering five goals and four assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances. Fresh from making three appearances for Germany at the World Cup, the market is hot on the veteran midfielder right now.
- Read more: Leon Goretzka analysis: Why Arsenal should target the Bayern Munich midfielder on a free transfer
6. Lorenzo Pellegrini
Lorenzo Pellegrini has been around for such a long time now — making over 400 senior appearances for Roma and Sassuolo combined and picking up 36 caps for Italy — that it’s easy to forget that he’s still only 30 years old. The attacking midfielder’s future should be straightforward, however, as he’s set to re-sign for Roma, though he is currently unable to train after surgery.
7. Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s career has been on a steady decline for a few years now, and his move to Ajax was supposed to be a fresh start and a new opportunity. However, disaster struck in February when he tore his knee ligaments, and he now faces an uncertain future as a free agent.
8. Dani Carvajal
Given they’ve already signed Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, perhaps Chelsea could look at Dani Carvajal as the latest addition to their leadership group — not to mention cover for the injury-prone Reece James. The Spaniard left Real Madrid at the end of last season following over 450 appearances, four La Liga titles and six Champions League crowns, among other major honours.
9. David Alaba
David Alaba walked through the Bernabeu exit door at the same time as Carvajal, and offers very similar elite winning experience with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The 34-year-old managed to get fit in time for the World Cup and captained Austria across four appearances. Now, Manchester United are the shock favourites to sign him.
10. Raphael Guerreiro
There have always been defensive concerns, but given his immense technical ability and eye for goal, Raphael Guerreiro is sure to be high on many clubs’ lists as they scour the free agent market. The former Portugal international notched six goals and three assists in 25 combined Bundesliga and Champions League appearances for Bayern Munich last season and is even more valuable given he can play at both left back and central midfield.
11. Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez left Al-Ahli this summer, but looks set to remain in Saudi Arabia, with other Pro League clubs being linked with his signature. No nostalgic return to Europe for the Algerian — who featured at the 2026 World Cup — though it’s probably best to leave his legacy intact.
12. Yves Bissouma
Knee and muscle injuries utterly derailed Yves Bissouma last season, limiting him to just 11 Premier League appearances as Tottenham desperately battled against relegation. That makes him a risk, but the Mali international is still just 29 years old and also boasts over 200 games of English top-flight experience. Fulham have been credited with interest in the midfielder so far this summer.
Honourable mentions: Bamba Dieng, Franck Kessie, Axel Tuanzebe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Tyrell Malacia, Raheem Sterling, Joselu, Wilfried Zaha, Filip Kostic, Ryan Kent, Joel Veltman.
Cult mentions: Marcelo Brozovic, Dani Ceballos, Adama Traore, Nabil Fekir, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Mauro Icardi, Anthony Martial, Tanguy Ndombele, Philippe Coutinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, Georginio Wijnaldum, Francesco Acerbi, Juan Fernando Quintero, Andrea Belotti, James Rodriguez, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mohamed Elneny, Alexis Sanchez, Axel Witsel, Jamie Vardy, Chris Smalling, Pedro, Edin Dzeko.