Ranking the best free agents after the transfer window: top players available to sign in 2026, from Benzema to Pogba and Sancho originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 summer transfer window is over in the Premier League and across most of Europe's major leagues, but that does not mean clubs are completely finished with their business.
Premier League sides once again flexed their financial muscles during a remarkable summer, spending around £3.48bn ($4.69m) on new players, while Manchester City alone spent close to £460m ($620m).
The English window officially closed at 11pm BST on September 1, preventing Premier League clubs from completing conventional transfers with other teams until January.
However, there remains another route to strengthening squads.
A remarkable collection of established internationals, Champions League winners and former Premier League stars remain without clubs and can still be approached as free agents.
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From Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba to Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho, there is enough talent available to assemble a team that would not look out of place in European competition.
The Sporting News takes a look at how free transfers work and picks a starting XI of the biggest names still available.
What is a free agent in football?
A free agent is a player who is not currently under contract with a club.
In normal circumstances, when one club wants to sign a player contracted to another, the two teams must agree a transfer fee before the buying club can negotiate and complete the move.
That restriction disappears when a player's contract expires or is terminated. The player is then effectively representing themselves, usually alongside their agent, and a new club can negotiate directly over wages, signing-on fees, bonuses and the length of the contract.
There is no transfer fee payable to a former club.
That can make free agents particularly attractive to teams that missed out on targets before deadline day or suddenly need cover because of injuries.
Can clubs sign free agents after the transfer window closes?
Yes.
The closure of the transfer window primarily prevents clubs from registering transfers involving players contracted to another team.
Players who are genuinely unattached can still agree contracts outside the regular transfer window.
However, there are still important restrictions as clubs must comply with domestic registration rules, squad limits and, where relevant, UK work-permit requirements. Premier League teams also submit updated squad lists following the closure of the summer window, while UEFA competitions operate separate registration deadlines.
So while a free agent can sign a contract outside the window, that does not automatically guarantee he can immediately appear in every competition.
What is the Bosman rule?
The modern free-agent market was transformed by the landmark Bosman ruling in 1995.
Belgian midfielder Jean-Marc Bosman challenged rules that allowed clubs to demand a transfer fee even after a player's contract had expired.
The European Court of Justice ruled in his favour on December 15, 1995, establishing that out-of-contract players within the European Union could move to another club without a transfer fee being paid. The judgment also challenged restrictions on the number of EU nationals clubs could field.
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Players approaching the end of their contracts gained significantly greater negotiating power and could command higher wages and signing-on bonuses because prospective employers no longer had to spend millions on a transfer fee.
More than 30 years later, the free-agent market remains an important part of squad building and there are some particularly big names available in September 2026.
Best free-agent XI after the 2026 summer transfer window
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Neto
Last club: Botafogo
The former Barcelona, Valencia, Bournemouth and Arsenal goalkeeper provides significant top-level experience.
Neto's spell with Botafogo came to an early end after the Brazilian club and the goalkeeper agreed to terminate a contract that had originally been due to run until June 2027.
At 37, he is unlikely to represent a long-term solution, but his experience makes him an obvious option for a club looking for an established No.2 or short-term goalkeeping cover.
RB: Dani Carvajal
Last club: Real Madrid
Few free agents arrive with a CV comparable to Carvajal's.
The right-back ended an extraordinary association with Real Madrid this summer after 450 first-team appearances and six European Cup/Champions League triumphs.
Real Madrid confirmed in May that their captain would depart at the conclusion of the season after 23 years at the club across academy and senior level.
Carvajal has already made clear that he intends to continue playing, meaning one of the most decorated defenders of his generation remains available.
CB: Chris Smalling
Last club: Al-Fayha
Smalling's career has taken him from Manchester United to Roma and, most recently, Saudi Arabia.
The former England international rebuilt his reputation impressively during five seasons in Italy before spending two years with Al-Fayha.
He is now without a club again and, despite being in the latter stages of his career, offers considerable experience to any team requiring defensive depth.
CB: David Alaba
Last club: Real Madrid
Another hugely decorated defender available without a transfer fee.
Alaba left Real Madrid alongside Carvajal this summer after five seasons in Spain, having made 131 appearances and won 11 trophies, including two Champions League titles.
The Austrian can operate at centre-back, left-back or in midfield and previously enjoyed more than a decade at Bayern Munich.
Fitness will inevitably be an important consideration following his injury problems in recent seasons, but his pedigree is unquestionable.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko
Last club: Ajax
Zinchenko's ability to operate both at left-back and in midfield makes him one of the more interesting players on the market.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal player joined Ajax after leaving north London but his time in the Netherlands was disrupted by injury.
Still only 29, Zinchenko offers considerably more potential longevity than many of the veteran names on this list and is currently available without a transfer fee.
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CM: Yves Bissouma
Last club: Tottenham
A player with extensive Premier League experience who could appeal to clubs looking for immediate midfield reinforcement.
Tottenham confirmed in June that Bissouma would leave following the expiry of his contract after four seasons in north London. He made 111 appearances for Spurs and was part of the side that won the 2025 Europa League.
Having previously impressed during four seasons at Brighton, he already understands the demands of English football.
CM: Paul Pogba
Last club: Monaco
Pogba remains one of the most fascinating names on the market.
The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder returned to competitive football with Monaco following his suspension but struggled to build momentum because of injuries.
Monaco and Pogba agreed to terminate a contract that had been scheduled to run until June 2027, with the World Cup winner making only six appearances during his spell in the principality.
There will inevitably be questions over fitness, but few available midfielders possess Pogba's combination of physicality, passing range and experience.
RW: Riyad Mahrez
Last club: Al-Ahli
One of the greatest African players of his generation is searching for his next club.
Mahrez enjoyed enormous success in England, winning the extraordinary 2015/16 Premier League title with Leicester before collecting another five league titles and the Champions League at Manchester City.
The winger has now left Al-Ahli and is available on a free transfer.
At 35, clubs would be signing him for the short term, but his technique and ability in the final third remain obvious attractions.
CAM: Jadon Sancho
Last club: Manchester United
Arguably the most intriguing free agent on the list because of his age.
Sancho is still only 26 and is searching for a permanent home after a turbulent few seasons involving Manchester United and loan spells away from Old Trafford.
United confirmed the England international among their summer free-transfer departures after his contract came to an end.
His time in Manchester never lived up to expectations, but Sancho's performances during his Borussia Dortmund career demonstrated the level he can reach in the right environment.
There should still be plenty of football ahead of him.
LW: Raheem Sterling
Last club: Feyenoord
Sterling is another player with vast Premier League experience who suddenly finds himself on the market.
The former Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea attacker joined Feyenoord on a short-term contract in February after becoming a free agent, with the agreement running only until the end of the 2025/26 season.
His brief spell in Rotterdam did not produce the revival he would have wanted, but Sterling has won four Premier League titles and earned 82 England caps.
At 31, there is still time for another significant chapter if he finds the right project.
ST: Karim Benzema
Last club: Al-Hilal
The standout name.
Benzema only joined Al-Hilal in February 2026 but the Saudi club announced on August 31 that both parties had mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
That leaves the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner available for nothing.
The former Real Madrid striker is now 38, but his pedigree requires little explanation: five Champions League titles, hundreds of goals at the highest level and more than a decade as one of Europe's elite forwards.
Any move would likely be short term and salary expectations would be a major factor, but there are few occasions when a Ballon d'Or winner becomes available immediately after deadline day.
Free-agent substitutes
The depth of this year's market means the reserve list is almost as recognisable as the starting XI.
Tyrell Malacia - LB
Manchester United allowed Malacia's contract to expire this summer after four injury-disrupted years at Old Trafford. Still only 26, the Dutch defender represents a younger alternative at left-back.
Raphael Guerreiro - LB/CM
The former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich player is capable of operating across the left side or in central midfield. He has been without a club since leaving Bayern in July.
Marcelo Brozovic - CM
The former Inter midfielder is another experienced option following the conclusion of his spell in Saudi Arabia. The Croatia international is currently listed among the leading out-of-contract midfielders.
Renato Sanches - CM
Paris Saint-Germain terminated Sanches' contract on deadline day despite his deal originally running until 2027. The Euro 2016 winner is only 29 but will hope to put several injury-hit seasons behind him.
Abdoulaye Doucoure - CM
The former Watford and Everton midfielder spent last season with NEOM in Saudi Arabia and has been without a club since July.
Georginio Wijnaldum - CM
Another player with significant Premier League pedigree. Wijnaldum left Al-Ettifaq this summer and remains unattached after a career that included Premier League and Champions League success with Liverpool.
Philippe Coutinho - AM
The former Liverpool and Barcelona playmaker terminated his contract with Vasco da Gama earlier in 2026. At 34, Coutinho remains available to any club willing to offer him another opportunity.
James Rodriguez - AM
The Colombia international is without a club following his departure from Minnesota and remains one of the most naturally gifted attacking midfielders on the market.
Wilfried Zaha - LW
Zaha's loan spell with Charlotte FC concluded at the end of June after he recorded 27 goal contributions in 46 appearances for the MLS club. He is currently among the high-profile attacking players available.
Anthony Martial - ST
The former Manchester United forward is looking for another opportunity following his spell with Monterrey. Still only 30, Martial offers the ability to play centrally or from the left.
Mauro Icardi - ST
A proven goalscorer throughout his career with Inter, PSG and Galatasaray. Icardi scored 77 goals during his time with the Turkish giants and is now available after leaving the club.
Jamie Vardy - ST
One of the Premier League's great modern stories is not finished yet. Vardy is available following his season with Cremonese and has already attracted interest from a number of clubs. The Leicester legend remains free to choose his next destination despite the closure of the English transfer window.