The latest winter transfer window is upon us. This means that some of the world’s best footballers are six months away from the expiration of their current contracts.
Thanks to the 1995 Bosman ruling, clubs in other countries can now officially begin discussions on pre-contracts with soon-to-be free agents. This allows players to join clubs of interest without the approval of their existing employer once their current contract expires.
With so many elite players at major clubs across Europe yet to agree their next contracts, athletic has identified 12 of the most popular players you can play for free this summer season.
If you haven’t heard yet, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract expires in the summer.
Liverpool’s vice-captain has enjoyed a superb first half of the season under new manager Arne Slot, with the Anfield club ready to compete for trophies both domestically and in Europe. The 26-year-old has so far contributed five assists, including two in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United in early December, and scored his first goal of the season in the 5-0 win over West Ham last weekend. .
Alexander-Arnold is attracting interest from Real Madrid (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
As one of the team’s most important players – an experienced head of the club’s leadership team and a childhood fan who was born locally and came through the club’s academy – Liverpool are keen to re-sign Alexander-Arnold, but face stiff competition for the reigns. there is. Spain and European champions Real Madrid have made right-backs their top targets ahead of next season.
Liverpool may need to act quickly as Madrid begin formal discussions with Alexander-Arnold’s representatives from today (January 1), potentially leading to a preliminary agreement to join the 15-time European Cup/Champions League winner.
If there were any doubts before the season started in August about Mohamed Salah’s ability to keep scoring goals and assists well into his 30s, his performances in the months since have put those doubts to rest once and for all.
In fact, there’s a fair argument to be made that Salah is the best player in the world right now. The 32-year-old (he will turn 33 just before his contract expires in June) has scored 20 goals and provided 17 assists in all competitions to lift Liverpool to the top of the Premier League and Champions League standings from 2025.
Liverpool have offered Salah his first contract, but he is yet to commit his future to Anfield. Liverpool have rejected a bid of up to £150m from Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad in 2023 and interest in the Egyptian from the Gulf nation is unlikely to wane.
But whether Salah, the world’s most famous Arab athlete, would be tempted to move to the Saudi professional league at this stage of his career is another question.
Completing Liverpool’s trio of high-profile potential free agents is club captain Virgil van Dijk.
Like Salah, Van Dijk is proving to doubters that he can still perform at an elite level in his 30s. The Dutchman is arguably the best centre-back in the Premier League this season, dominating a defense that concedes goals at a rate of less than one per game.
At 33 (he turns 34 in early July), this could be Van Dijk’s last long-term contract with a top European club. His future remains uncertain, but he has received a contract offer from Liverpool and there is growing belief around Anfield that he will stay.
Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best player to wear a Manchester City shirt, but this year has been far from his best since joining from Wolfsburg in Germany in 2015.
After an impressive start to the season, including scoring a goal in a 4–1 win over Ipswich Town, De Bruyne was in and out of Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup due to injury problems and a lack of form. He appeared to have rediscovered his devastating final third qualities in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in December, but has struggled to maintain that level on a consistent basis.
De Bruyne is set to turn 34 in June, just before his current contract expires, and as reported on 2025 Transfer Radar, he has interest from a PIF-backed club in Saudi Arabia and there have been discussions with MLS and a number of clubs. Although he is in the North American league, he has the opportunity to remain at City if he wishes.
Alphonso Davies’ electric pace and attacking ability have long made him one of the most coveted defenders in European football, so it’s no surprise that many of the continent’s biggest clubs are interested in signing him.
After being in and out of Bayern Munich’s starting XI last season, Davies has made a solid start to the season, which has seen new manager Vincent Kompany take an early lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Davis’ contract expires at the end of this season. (Alexandra Beier/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern are keen to keep hold of the 24-year-old Canada international but he is attracting interest from Premier League clubs and Real Madrid. With so many top clubs in the market for a left-back, it comes as no surprise to see Davis involved in a number of transfer talks with some of Europe’s biggest clubs until his future is decided.
Canadian Davis could remain at his current club, but Jonathan David appears ready for a move to the European giants.
The striker has been consistent for French side Lille and his national team over the years, but has made a notable leap forward this season, particularly in the Champions League. David, 24, has scored six goals and provided three assists in 10 appearances in Europe. A great record considering the profile of the club he plays for. He has also performed poorly domestically in Ligue 1, scoring 11 goals in 15 games, including a hat-trick against Le Havre in September.
Several Premier League clubs respect him, including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Italy’s Juventus and Inter, and Spain’s Atletico Madrid are also keeping an eye on him.
Seen as the German leader at the heart of the Bayern team and the logical successor to Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, it seemed inevitable that Joshua Kimmich would enjoy his prime in Munich. But stalled contract talks between the 29-year-old and the Bayern board could see his future move away from the Allianz Arena.
Kimmich has been indifferent at Bayern over the past few years, playing between defensive midfielder and full-back under Kompany and predecessor Thomas Tuchel, but neither man has been able to make the most of the Germany captain’s strengths. He won’t be cheap for those interested, but he is one of the most talented midfielders in Europe and will attract interest from top clubs.
Leroy Sane
Despite his undoubted talent and athleticism, Leroy Sane has struggled with consistency since joining Bayern from Manchester City in the summer of 2020.
Sane has started 2023-24 in full form for Bayern, scoring eight goals and providing 10 assists in his opening 17 Bundesliga games. However, he was unable to rediscover his form due to injury and recorded only one assist in the second half of the 34-game league season. So far this campaign he has been in and out of new manager Kompany’s side.
The Germany international turns 29 this month, so he is no longer a young talent who can be expected to be consistent. Nonetheless, when Sane is at his best, few wingers can match his world-class ability to beat defenders and produce the final third.
Angel Gomes caught the attention of many England fans after England interim manager Lee Carsley gave him his first call-up to the senior national team, succeeding Gareth Southgate, in September.
Gomes then impressed at the base of Carsley’s midfield, showing his willingness to push his team forward with his incisive passing, calm possession and defensive awareness. Gomes, who has made five league appearances since leaving Manchester United in 2020, has matured in Ligue 1 with Lille and could return to the Premier League this summer.
When healthy and available, Gomes will be a mainstay in Lille’s midfield. He can play as a No. 10, No. 8 or the deeper No. 6 position he occupied under Carsley.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked set to become one of England’s most in-demand strikers just a few seasons ago, but injuries have delayed his development.
During the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, he scored 29 goals in 69 league games and broke into England’s European Championship squad ahead of several more experienced options. Now 27 years old and having scored just 16 goals since the 2020-21 season, Calvert-Lewin could now prepare for a move to restart his career.
Calvert-Lewin’s career was halted by injuries (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite this, he remains an important part of Sean Dyche’s plans at Everton. He has started 16 of 18 league games this season and while his goal production has declined, the manager praises his hold-up play and defensive work.
neymar
Neymar remains one of the most famous and talented players in the world, but his move to Saudi Arabia was not successful.
The 32-year-old Brazilian made headlines in the massive superstar exodus to the Saudi Professional League in 2023, joining Al Hilal after a six-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury while with the Brazil national team in October 2023, after playing just five games for his new club. He finally returned after a year-long absence, but soon suffered a hamstring problem that has kept him out of action ever since.
Neymar caught the attention of an MLS club, namely Inter Miami, where he shared the pitch with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, as well as their now manager Javier Mascherano. . The league’s salary cap restrictions make it complicated, but not impossible, for Miami to sign Neymar. But right now, his future is up in the air.
Considered one of Germany’s most promising prospects in central defence, Jonathan Ta’s mistake-prone reputation has traditionally been one of the main reasons why he has yet to join a bigger club. If these mistakes can be corrected, Tah, an elite athlete with excellent possession skills, will likely see an upward trend.
Under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, the 28-year-old has shown promise over the past two seasons and is now regarded as one of the most reliable and solid defenders in the Bundesliga. He played a key role in Leverkusen’s unbeaten 2023-24 domestic season and established himself at the heart of Germany’s defense under Julian Nagelsmann.
With many top teams across Europe looking for central defensive reinforcements, promotion to one of football’s few elite clubs could soon be within reach of Tah.
(Top photo by De Bruyne and Kimmich; Getty Images)
