Top 10 most valuable players that switched clubs as free agents in football history

These players left their clubs after their contracts ended

In the world of football, free agency provides players with the opportunity to explore new horizons, seek improved contracts, and embrace fresh challenges. Notable footballers have made the bold decision to leave their clubs as free agents, leaving a significant impact on their careers and the football landscape as a whole.

The following are the top 10 most valuable players who left their club as free agents and joined another club to pursue their careers:

10. Leon Goretzka- €40m (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich reportedly signed Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka in 2018. The German is a rare talent, an imposing presence, a goalscorer, a tackler, and a playmaker all rolled into one.

Goretzka is multifaceted, able to use his technical quality to control matches, his combativeness to break lines, and his football intelligence to find smart positions on the pitch. Before signing for Bayern, he was the only player who made the most dribbles in the Bundesliga.

9. Stefan De Vrij- €40m (Inter Milan)

In a market where monstrous fees are paid for defenders, perhaps signing Stefan de Vrij for free could be regarded as one of the biggest steals in this transfer window.

He likes hitting long balls to the forwards. He is calm and organised, and he is a real leader in the back line. De Vrij is also a free-scoring defender, with six goals in the last Serie A campaign before joining Inter Milan.

8. Franck Kessie- €45m (Barcelona)

Franck Kessie reached an agreement to join Barçelona after the end of his contract with AC Milan. Franck Kessie is a player who contributes to attack and defence. Capable of winning the ball back in midfield, the African midfielder also has impressive stats as a goalscorer, partly due to his ability to make runs into the penalty area.

7. Memphis Depay- €45m (Barcelona)

The Catalan giants announced the signing of former Lyon winger Memphis Depay as a free agent, inking him to a two-year deal before the 2021–22 season. Depay had a superb 2020–21 season for Lyon, scoring 20 goals and adding 12 assists in 37 Ligue 1 games while helping the club finish fourth in France's top league.

Barcelona had an interesting and dangerous suite of attackers heading into the 2021–22 campaign, headlined by Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Depay, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati, and Sergio Aguero.

6. Paul Pogba- €48m (Juventus)

Pogba enjoyed a highly successful first spell at Juventus (2012–16) before Manchester United signed him for a then-record 105 million euros. He was the main man in the United squad that won the UEFA Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

The Italian giants signed him on a free deal, and he started his second spell at the club after joining on a free from Manchester United. His second spell has not been a pleasing one as he has been dealing with injuries that have made him miss playing time.

5. Milan Skriniar- €50m (PSG)

Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar became Paris Saint-Germain's first signing of the summer, joining on a free transfer a year after the French champions declined to pay Inter Milan 70 million euros. Skriniar, who has signed a five-year contract, had been a top target of Luis Enrique's predecessor, Christophe Galtier.

He will look to impress the new manager, Luis Enrique, and his defensive abilities will be welcome for a PSG defence that conceded 40 goals on their way to a record 11th Ligue 1 crown last term; it was the worst defensive record for a French champion club since Lyon conceded 41 in 2003.

4. Robert Lewandowski- €50m (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich signed Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer from rivals Borussia Dortmund in 2014. The Polish captain spent eight years at one of the most decorated clubs in the history of football. He is one of the most prolific strikers of all time.

Lewandowski spent eight seasons with Bayern Munich and won eight league titles, three DFP Pokal trophies, five DFL Supercups, and one Champions League. During his time at the club, he played 375 games and scored 344 goals.

3. David Alaba- €55m (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid signed David Alaba from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract as soon as the January transfer window opened. Real Madrid made their move to sign the left-back in 2021, who excelled as a centre-back for Bayern.

Real Madrid's signing of David Alaba has been putting up excellent performances so far, making him LaLiga's best signing.

2. Gianluigi Donnarumma- €60m (PSG)

The 24-year-old joined PSG on a free transfer from AC Milan after he was unable to agree terms on an extension. Donnarumma's signing completed the best summer transfer window in the history of football for PSG. The Italian has been the number one choice for the club since his signing, replacing Keylor Navas as the number one choice goalkeeper for the Parisians.

1. Lionel Messi- €80m (PSG)

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner opted to continue his career at Parc des Princes after an illustrious 21-year spell at Camp Nou. Barcelona sent shockwaves across the football world when they announced that they couldn't afford to re-register one of the greatest players to ever play this game, and PSG moved quickly to secure the services of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. He joined the attack with Neymar and Mbappe, but they were not able to win big, and Messi decided to join Inter Miami this summer from the Ligue 1 club.