Free agents: The best players available on a Bosman Transfer

Martin Macdonald

• 13 Sept 2025 16:34 BST
• 4 min read

FEATURE

The summer transfer window is closed for Europe's major leagues, but several top-class players remain free agents and can therefore be signed on a Bosman deal.

Contracts in Europe typically run until the end of June, and with that date long since passed, a host of stars find themselves unemployed.

In the summer of 2024, there were some huge free transfers - including Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, Thiago Silva to Fluminense and David de Gea to Fiorentina.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

In the summer of 2025, too, there have been several noteworthy Bosman moves. Man City legend Kevin de Bruyne joined reigning Serie A champions Napoli.

Paul Pogba returned to competitive football after his 18-month doping suspension and signed a contract with Ligue 1 side Monaco. There, he was joined by former Tottenham and Bayern defender Eric Dier.

Angel Gomes left Lille for Marseille, who also signed Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley without a fee. In addition to Gomes, Lille also lost star striker Jonathan David to Juventus.

Brighton snapped up ex-PSV centre-back Olivier Boscagli on a free transfer, while former teammate Walter Benitez joined rivals Crystal Palace.

Arsenal lost Jorginho to Flamengo and Kieran Tierney to Celtic. Former Gunner Alexandre Lacazette left Lyon for promoted Saudi side NEOM.

Forgotten Barcelona man Clement Lenglet finally departed the club to join Atletico Madrid on a Bosman.

Trent Alexander-Arnold looked poised to head to Real Madrid from Liverpool for nothing, but Los Blancos agreed to pay €10m to have him available a month earlier for the Club World Cup.

Former Chelsea and West Ham defender Kurt Zouma completed a shock free transfer to Romania, joining CFR Cluj, where he was later joined by former Leicester striker Islam Slimani.

READ MORE: Out of contract in 2025 - The best free agents available on a Bosman

Who are the best out-of-contract soccer players?

Every year on 1 July, players whose contracts expire at their clubs become free agents.

There are currently some very high-profile free agents who are all available on a Bosman deal.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hakim Ziyech and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are some of the most famous unattached players right now.

Below, FootballTransfers have listed the best free agents that are currently unattached and are therefore available to be signed without a transfer fee.