As Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson once told the world in 1992, “The Best Things in Life Are Free”—and that sentiment perhaps rings true nowhere more so than in football.
Landing a top player on a free transfer is as close as it gets to hitting the jackpot. Clubs may still need to meet hefty wage demands, but avoiding an eye-watering fee in an ever-inflating market is a rare luxury.
History is littered with game-changing free moves. Robert Lewandowski swapping Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich in 2014. Andrea Pirlo joining Juventus from AC Milan in 2011. More recently, Kylian Mbappé’s long-awaited switch from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid in 2024.
With the 2025–26 season veering towards crunch time, attention is starting to turn to the next wave of stars approaching the end of their contracts—players who will be available for absolutely nothing when the campaign concludes.
10. Marcos Senesi
After Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi stole the show in Bournemouth’s defensive line last season, earning moves to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, Marcos Senesi has returned to the limelight in 2025–26.
A cultured ball-playing defender with an aggressive streak, there’s much to like about the experienced operator, who’ll fancy earning a big payday when his current deal on the English south coast draws to a close.
Center backs of Senesi’s profile are valuable, especially as he’s left-footed, and there’s a chance the Argentine winds up at one of Europe’s elite clubs, likely as a rotational piece.
9. Harry Wilson
It’s hard to think of a more magical left foot in the Premier League—or perhaps all of Europe—than Harry Wilson’s.
From perfectly curled free-kicks to cushioned volleys and inch-perfect through balls, the Fulham star’s left boot is pure gold, and increasingly vital to the Cottagers’ attacking play.
That magic may soon be gone, however, with Wilson entering the final months of his contract and a move away from Craven Cottage pending.
8. Leon Goretzka
A long-serving Bayern Munich stalwart, Leon Goretzka has fought his way back into the starting XI under Vincent Kompany after last season seemed to signal the beginning of the end for him at the Allianz Arena. Yet, with just a few months left on his contract, his future is still very much up in the air.
The German international, who famously reinvented himself from a sleek playmaker into a muscle-bound, all-action midfielder in Bayern colors, is exactly the type of player managers crave: Versatile, experienced, technically sharp and a consummate professional who delivers even when he isn’t always in the spotlight.
Often likened to Michael Ballack—another German great who made a sensational late-career move to the Premier League—don’t be surprised if Goretzka follows a similar path. Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked.
7. Julian Brandt
Perhaps because Germany has so many top-class playmakers, Julian Brandt has often flown under the radar, despite being one of the nation’s most intelligent and creative talents over the past decade for Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.
A silky operator, Brandt can unlock any defense with a perfectly disguised pass, a sudden burst of pace or by finding the net himself. His contract runs out in June, and it’s been confirmed that the 2025–26 season will be Brandt’s last at Signal Iduna Park.
A fresh start beckons, whether that means with a third club in Germany or finally making the long-awaited leap to the Premier League.
6. Dusan Vlahovic
Come the summer, Dušan Vlahović will be one of the biggest names available.
The Serbian forward is set to leave Juventus at the end of the season after a turbulent spell in Turin, where he’s often been in and out of the team, faced criticism from fans and struggled to hit the heights he reached at Fiorentina.
Much of the inconsistency can be traced to managerial upheaval and a lack of support around him. His 2025–26 campaign has been beset by an adductor injury.
A physically imposing striker with a deadly left foot and the knack for producing moments of sheer brilliance, he remains a nightmare for any defence. At just 26, there’s still plenty of time for his next club to unlock his full potential.
5. Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rüdiger was regarded as one of Europe’s premier center backs not so long ago, but the German, a two-time Champions League winner with two different clubs, has been hindered by injuries as of late.
Thus, if Rüdiger hits the open market this summer, he cannot expect to attain the sort of lucrative deal Real Madrid were willing to offer when he left Chelsea at the end of his contract in 2022.
The 33-year-old still has much to offer at the highest level, although potential suitors will be wary of his recent fitness setbacks.
4. Casemiro
The soccer hasn’t left Casemiro just yet, with the once-perennial Champions League winner enjoying a stellar campaign in Manchester United’s midfield.
Despite his excellent individual performances, which have only improved since Michael Carrick took charge, minority owners INEOS are desperate to trim United’s hefty wage bill, and Casemiro’s departure has already been confirmed for the summer.
He’ll leave a gaping void in the Red Devils’ engine room, and many will wonder where Casemiro could end up next. The Saudi Pro League was once mooted for the 34-year-old, but he can still cut it with Europe’s best.
3. Robert Lewandowski
A perpetually debt-riddled Barcelona would be wise to shed Robert Lewandowski’s monster salary off their books, especially when you consider the step back the veteran center forward has taken this season.
Lewandowski has shared the spotlight with Ferran Torres, only producing in spurts. Injuries have become more common, and Barça must surely be aware that the very best version of the Polish superstar is in the rearview mirror.
He’s still unsure of his future, with Barcelona reportedly having the option of extending his deal, likely on lower wages, by another year. Barça seemingly want to retain the 37-year-old, but, in doing so, would be limiting what they can achieve in the summer transfer window.
2. Bernardo Silva
Fleet-footed, intelligent and hailed by Pep Guardiola as “one of the best players I have ever coached,” Bernardo Silva remains more than capable of performing at the highest level.
However, with Guardiola overseeing a transition at Manchester City and building around younger talent, Silva’s time at the Etihad may very well come to an end when his contract expires.
While he seems keen on a return to Portugal—with Benfica reportedly leading the chase—nothing is finalized, leaving the door open for other suitors to snap up a Premier League great for free.
1. Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool had dug themselves into a contract mess this time last year, eventually re-signing Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk but losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.
The Reds have work to do again this year, and Ibrahima Konaté’s future is at the forefront of their minds.
Konaté has certainly had his moments amid Liverpool’s woeful title defense, but at his best, the Frenchman is one of the most dominant defenders around. He’s not someone you’d want to lose for nothing, and Liverpool are still working to persuade Konaté to stay. Little progress has been made thus far, however.
The center back may be targeting a move to Madrid, potentially as a Rüdiger replacement, but it’d take a U-turn from Los Blancos to pull such a deal off. The Spanish behemoths supposedly ended their pursuit of Konaté last November.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 10 Best Players Available on Free Transfers in Summer 2026—Ranked.
