The main free agents in football in the summer of 2026
The summer transfer window is drawing closer to its end each day. Yet, there are still many well-known players who remain without clubs. In this article, we have compiled for you the top 8 free agents of the current transfer window. Some stars on this list may surprise you!
Dusan Vlahovic
Age: 26 years
Position: Centre forward
Transfer value: 35 million euros
Vlahovic is a powerful centre forward, who at just 26 years old, has already made a name for himself in Europe. The Serbian spent the last few years at Juventus, where he arrived from Fiorentina as one of the top talents in Serie A. In Turin, they expected consistent performance from him, but his career with the "black and whites" turned out to be inconsistent - hence the decision not to renew his contract. Currently, Vlahovic is the most expensive player on the free agent market. Barcelona, Napoli, and Besiktas are closely monitoring him.
Jadon Sancho
Age: 26 years
Position: Winger
Transfer value: 18 million euros
In the summer of 2021, Manchester United bought Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for 85 million euros. It seemed then that the English winger would become the face of the "Red Devils" for many years. However, Sancho seems to have "burned out". Loans to Chelsea and Aston Villa did not help Jadon to reboot his career. And now, at 26, he has become a free agent, whose future remains unclear as of early August.
Franck Kessie
Age: 29 years
Position: Defensive midfielder
Transfer value: 12 million euros
Franck Kessie has had stints at Milan and Barcelona, and even tried his luck in the Saudi Pro League. This summer, he left Al-Ahli at the end of his contract, deciding to return to Europe. Rumour has it that Italian and English clubs are currently showing interest in the Ivorian.
Leon Goretzka
Age: 31 years
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer value: 12 million euros
Leon Goretzka spent eight years at Bayern Munich. He won all possible trophies with the Munich club. However, the last 2-3 seasons have not been the most stable for the German. Therefore, Leon is now open to new challenges. And there is interest in him from clubs in Italy and even from the MLS.
Fabinho
Age: 32 years
Position: Defensive midfielder
Transfer value: 12 million euros
Fabinho also finds himself on the free agent market. This summer, his contract with Saudi club Al-Ittihad expired. After the season ended, the club offered him a new contract, but the partiesThey did not agree on financial terms - the offer turned out to be less profitable than the salary and bonuses that Fabinho received in recent years. Now the Brazilian will either go to his homeland or return to Europe.
Dani Ceballos
Age: 29 years
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer value: 8 million euros
Dani Ceballos spent several years at Real Madrid, where he alternated bright periods with times when he simply lacked playing time. This winter, the agreement with the 29-year-old footballer, which was valid until the summer of 2027, was terminated by mutual consent. According to the Spanish press, at the moment, Betis is the favorite to sign the midfielder.
Marcelo Brozovic
Age: 33 years
Position: Defensive midfielder
Transfer value: 8 million euros
Brozovic left Saudi Al-Nassr back in July. The parties parted ways at the end of the contract term. The club decided not to offer the 33-year-old Croatian midfielder a new agreement. However, it seems that Marcelo is still in good shape and would strengthen almost any top club from the same Serie A, where he made his name before moving to Saudi Arabia.
Dani Carvajal
Age: 34 years
Position: Right back
Transfer value: 4 million euros
Dani Carvajal is one of those defenders whose name is associated with Real Madrid's Champions League victories. For many years, he provided reliability to the right flank of the "cream" defense. But after the cruciate ligament injury, the 34-year-old veteran clearly declined. Therefore, in Madrid, they decided to bet on younger players, and Carvajal became a free agent. According to rumors, Serie A clubs, including Como and Milan, are showing interest in the Spaniard.
FAQ
What does "free agent" mean in football?
A free agent is a footballer whose contract with a club has expired and who can move to a new team without paying compensation (transfer fee) to his former club. The player negotiates his own salary and terms, and the club saves on the transfer itself.
Why are clubs interested in free agents, even if they are often players "on the decline"?
The main advantage is saving money: there's no need to pay a transfer fee for the player. At the same time, many free agents are experienced performers with a reputation: they can strengthen the team, provide stability in defense or creativity in the midfield, as well as pass on their experience to the younger players. For clubs, this is a way to strengthen their squad "below market price".
Who is the most expensive free agent in the summer market of 2026?
The Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic, whose value is estimated at 35 million euros.
When does the summer transfer window close?
In the top European leagues, the summer transfer window closes on August 31, 2026. However, in certain championships, it will remain open until approximately mid-September.
