June 30 is an important date in the football calendar, despite the lack of action in most top leagues.
It's the day when player contracts typically end, freeing them up to join a new club for nothing. It can feel like D-day for clubs whose prize assets are set to move on, though - as we've seen with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele this year - some will leave things very late to get a new deal signed.
A number of stars are out of contract 12 months from now, including Champions League winners and Ballon d'Or nominees. Here, Mirror Football looks at a few of those who will be free to move to a new club for free if nothing changes in the meantime. All contract expiry dates are via transfermarkt and accurate as of June 2022, and don't include those like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who have an option to extend for a further year.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema could be a Ballon d'Or winner before the turn of the year, with plenty of calls for the veteran to win the award for the first time. However, by the time June 2023 rolls around he could be playing his club football away from Real Madrid.
Sergio Busquets
Busquets has spent his entire career at Barcelona, but will be free to speak to other clubs from January if he's unable to agree an extension before then. Could he follow compatriot Andres Iniesta in relinquishing his status as a one-club man?
Memphis Depay
Another Barcelona player who could be up for grabs in 2023, Memphis only signed a two-year deal when joining from Lyon in 2021. With the likes of Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following the Dutchman to Camp Nou, he's one who the Catalans might choose to cash in on before his contract is up.
Roberto Firmino
Liverpool have a few players entering the final year of their deals (more on this later) and Firmino is among the long-serving figures on that list. The Brazilian has been with the Reds since 2015, and many on Merseyside will be happy to see him extend his stay, though he could be a good pick-up for another club if allowed to move on.
Gavi
Perhaps unlike some of his teammates, Gavi is someone who Barca will be desperate to keep around. Manager Xavi could play a big role in the homegrown talent choosing to extend his stay, but there will be no shortage of takers if the teenager looks to move on.
Serge Gnabry
Bayern Munich star Gnabry has been linked with a Premier League return after Sadio Mane's move to the Allianz Arena. Plenty at Bayern would prefer if the German international stays, but he could yet find himself leaving without earning his club a fee.
Raphael Guerreiro
Another Bundesliga talent linked with a move, Portugal international Guerreiro has been with Borussia Dortmund since 2016. Barcelona are among those to have been linked with the 28-year-old, who has more than 200 top-flight games under his belt.
Jorginho
After losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen for free this summer, Chelsea could face a repeat in 12 months' time. Among those out of contract is Jorginho, who set the Blues back a huge £50m in 2018.
N'Golo Kante
A regular partner of Jorginho at Stamford Bridge, Kante also has just one year left on his Chelsea deal. Even if the French international leaves on a free, he'll be fondly remembered for his achievements with the club.
Kalidou Koulibaly
A long-time Premier League target, Koulibaly played his 300th game for Napoli in the 2021-22 season. He will be 32 by the end of next season, but goes into the campaign off the back of Africa Cup of Nations success with Senegal.
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski joined Bayern Munich for free, and could end up leaving in similar circumstances. The Polish superstar has scored at a rate of almost a goal a game, and it's no surprise to see him linked with top clubs despite his age.
Riyad Mahrez
One of a number of Manchester City's title-winning side whose current deal expires in 2023, 31-year-old Mahrez potentially has one big move left in him. The Algerian international had his best ever goalscoring season in 2021-22, netting 24 times as Pep Guardiola's side won the league and came within a minute of the Champions League final.
Luka Modric
Both Modric and long-time Real Madrid midfield partner Toni Kroos are out of contract in 2023. The former Ballon d'Or winner is in the twilight of his career, but will surely have options if he plans to keep going at a high level.
Jan Oblak
Oblak was recently in the conversation for the world's top goalkeeper, and he's still high up that list despite a tough season. He's one of a handful of Atletico Madrid players who could be available for free in 2023, along with French international Thomas Lemar.
Sergio Ramos
Injuries have restricted Sergio Ramos' involvement for Paris Saint-Germain since he joined on a two-year deal from Real Madrid. However, the Spaniard has shown enough over the previous decade to potentially convince another club to take a chance.
Marco Reus
Reus has been a big factor in Borussia Dortmund's bigger moments, and the return of Edin Terzic as manager will be a test for the German. However, given his contract situation, another failure to challenge for top honours might tempt him to move on.
Fabian Ruiz
Spanish midfielder Ruiz has long been linked with a move away from Napoli, and reports of a Premier League switch have returned this summer. Manchester United and Arsenal are among those linked with the 26-year-old, who could be available at a knock-down fee.
Mohamed Salah
Surely the highest-profile contract story of the summer concerns Salah, with Liverpool likely needing to rip up their pay structure to meet the Egyptian's demands. While Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and others are also out of contract in 2023, the former Roma star is the big one.
Milan Skriniar
Slovakia defender Skriniar continues to be linked with top European clubs thanks to his form in Italy. The 27-year-old played a big part in Inter Milan's 2021 title win, Chelsea and PSG are among those pushing for a deal.
Raheem Sterling
Another Chelsea target, Sterling could end his seven-year association with Manchester City this summer. Despite the England star's situation, though, he is unlikely to be the cheapest if he moves before the World Cup.
Youri Tielemans
Leicester's league struggles last season have seen clubs sniff around Tielemans, who cost the Foxes a reported £32m back in 2019. The Belgian international has shown his Premier League pedigree, prompting the likes of Arsenal to look at a potential move.
Wilfried Zaha
Crystal Palace have knocked back a number of big-money bids for Wilfried Zaha in recent years, but could now lose the Ivorian international for nothing. Patrick Vieira's side have done well to build for a future without the 29-year-old, but a career-best 14 league goals last term shows his value to the Eagles.
