Top 15 star players who are still free agents ft. Jadon Sancho & Paul Pogba

Some of the biggest names in football remain without clubs.

With the summer transfer window underway worldwide, top clubs have spent huge sums on players to shore up their squads ahead of the new league seasons. Clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea have continued to dominate the transfer market. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have also invested significant sums in new signings.

Elliot Anderson became the most expensive British signing of all time, joining City for £116 million. On the other hand, Real Madrid broke their own transfer record with the signing of Yan Diomande, which can rise to €140 million with add-ons. Barcelona signed Rodri for €60 million.

Then, of course, there are the bargain buys. Clubs like Brighton, Brentford, and Leeds United have all signed players on the cheap who have the potential to become superstars. The likes of Tarik Muharemovic and Xavier Schlager are good examples.

There exists another group of players who have also shaken up the transfer market: the free agents. These players are unattached after having their previous contracts expire or ripped up. Available without a transfer fee, many clubs have taken the punt on the free agents.

Mohamed Salah, who left Liverpool after last season, joined Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor. Former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic joined league rivals Besiktas on a free transfer. Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Crystal Palace, and Jordan Henderson signed for Chelsea, to name a few.

However, many footballing superstars remain free agents, with the summer transfer window set to close at the end of August. Let’s look at some of the most surprising names who are part of the free agency pool.

Also Read: Top three clubs Myles Lewis-Skelly could join this summer window from Arsenal ft. Chelsea

Top 15 surprising free agents

Sl No.	Player	Previous club
15	Paul Pogba	AS Monaco
14	David Alaba	Real Madrid
13	Raheem Sterling	Feyenoord
12	Anthony Martial	Monterrey
11	Mauro Icardi	Galatasaray
10	Dani Carvajal	Real Madrid
9	Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli
8	Dani Ceballos	Real Madrid
7	Marcelo Brozovic	Al Nassr
6	Ismael Bennacer	AC Milan
5	Yves Bissouma	Tottenham Hotspur
4	Leon Goretzka	Bayern Munich
3	Fabinho	Al Ittihad
2	Franck Kessie	Al Ahli
1	Jadon Sancho	Manchester United

Note: The players have not been selected solely based on their market value, but also their popularity and experience before becoming free agents.

15. Paul Pogba

After a troubled few years, during which he was handed an 18-month ban for doping, Paul Pogba seemed to be on the right track when he signed for AS Monaco. However, the former French international only made six Ligue 1 appearances for the Red and Whites. He had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

It remains to be seen what is next for Pogba’s career.

14. David Alaba

After five seasons with Real Madrid, veteran defender David Alaba left the Spanish club at the end of last season. Injuries hampered the Austrian legend’s time in Madrid. He made 85 league appearances and won nine trophies with Los Blancos.

Alaba might be 34 years old, but he could still do a good job for a Champions League club.

13. Raheem Sterling

Once considered one of the most exciting young players in the world, Raheem Sterling has found regular football hard to come by in the last few years. He was completely frozen out by Chelsea towards the end. A disastrous six-month loan at Arsenal did not help him.

After terminating his Blues contract by mutual consent, he joined Feyenoord in February. He only managed eight appearances, scoring no goals and registering one assist. They did not have his contract extended.

He was last seen coaching children at his RS7 Academy.

12. Anthony Martial

Another youngster who had the world at his feet. Injuries devastated Anthony Martial’s Manchester United career. After a nine-season spell at the Red Devils, he departed for AEK Athens on a free transfer.

He scored a respectable seven goals in 16 appearances in Greece, prompting Monterrey to sign him on a two-year deal. However, he scored just once for the Mexican side and departed after only one season.

11. Mauro Icardi

After initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain before making the move permanent, Mauro Icardi has had a very successful time at Galatasaray. The Argentine striker scored 77 goals in 134 appearances across all competitions. However, talks for a new contract broke down.

The former Inter Milan forward remains a free agent. Sky Sport revealed that a contract with Lazio looks imminent.

10. Dani Carvajal

Dani Carvajal brought his two-decade association with Real Madrid to an end last season when his contract expired. He is reportedly training at the Spanish Football Federation’s facilities in Las Rozas alongside fellow free agent Joselu. L’Interista reported that Inter Milan are interested in the 34-year-old right-back, though there is nothing concrete.

Also Read: Has Real Madrid legend Dani Carvajal retired from football?

9. Riyad Mahrez

After a highly successful stint with Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez jumped on the Saudi Pro League train, signing for Al Ahli. He scored 37 goals and registered 46 assists across three seasons, winning back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles with the Saudi club. However, his contract was surprisingly terminated after the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The Algerian is reportedly a target for AS Roma and several Saudi clubs.

8. Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos terminated his Real Madrid contract by mutual consent, one year before the deal was due to expire. The 30-year-old was never a starter for Madrid, but did make 135 league appearances for them. He also made 49 appearances during a loan spell at Arsenal.

Napoli look set to be his next club, having made a contract offer. Juventus and former side Real Betis are also interested.

7. Marcelo Brozovic

Having made over 300 appearances for Inter Milan, Marcelo Brozovic signed for Al Nassr in 2023. The Croatian midfielder was key for the Global Ones. He made 40 appearances across all competitions last season as the club won the Saudi Pro League title.

However, Al Nassr and the 33-year-old could not agree on a new contract. La Stampa reported that he had been offered to Juventus.

6. Ismael Bennacer

Ismael Bennacer was a huge success at AC Milan, making 178 appearances for the Italian side and leading them to the 2021-22 Scudetto title. However, a persistent knee injury meant that he lost his starting spot in the team. He spent the last season on loan at Marseille and Dinamo Zagreb.

Bennacer terminated his contract by mutual consent at the end of last season. Qatari side Al-Gharrafa are the leading candidates to sign him, Fabrizio Romano reported.

5. Yves Bissouma

Genuinely considered a coup when he was signed from Brighton, Yves Bissouma’s career at Tottenham Hotspur unravelled towards the end due to a combination of off-field and injury issues. He was reportedly sanctioned several times by Thomas Frank due to “persistent lateness.” New head coach Roberto De Zerbi opted not to renew his contract.

Bissouma made just 11 appearances last season. Brighton and Coventry City are interested, as are Trabzonspor.

4. Leon Goretzka

Leon Goretzka and Bayern Munich agreed not to extend the player’s contract beyond last season, bringing an end to their eight-year chapter. Goretzka’s role had been reduced significantly under Vincent Kompany. The player himself expressed a desire to “play really competitive football abroad again.”

He reportedly turned down an offer from MLS side Chicago Fire. No European clubs have come in for his services yet.

3. Fabinho

Al Ittihad opted not to renew Fabinho’s contract. The Brazilian player reportedly rejected the Saudi side’s reduced contract offer. After leaving Liverpool in 2023, he enjoyed a successful spell at Al Ittihad, making 83 appearances and serving as the club captain.

He also led the club to a domestic double in the 2024-25 season. Still just 32, somehow, Fabinho should be able to find a mid-table club in Europe. However, no serious interest has been reported in the media.

2. Franck Kessie

Franck Kessie had a brilliant three-year spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, becoming the club’s captain and scoring 26 goals and registering 14 assists in 119 appearances. However, the Ivorian midfielder, nicknamed “Il Presidente,” reportedly rejected a new contract. All because of his interest in a return to Europe.

Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the former AC Milan player. Al Ittihad are also in the running.

1. Jadon Sancho

It’s fair to say that Jadon Sancho’s £73 million move to Manchester United did not work out. A litany of disciplinary issues and a public feud with head coach Erik ten Hag contributed to him spending half of his five-year spell away from the club. He was on loan with Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.

However, none of the clubs signed him permanently. Chelsea even famously paid a £5 million penalty fee instead of making the loan deal permanent

Transfermarkt reported that Sancho has rejected offers from Premier League clubs. He wants to play abroad. There has been some interest from clubs in Serie A and the Turkish Super Lig

But there has been nothing concrete yet for the 26-year-old. It is a sad situation for one of the most talented footballers of his generation.

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