Top 5 Players Available on a Free Transfer in 2025

For many players, the transfer window signals not just the end of a season but the end of their time at a club. Whether it’s due to the player seeking a new challenge or the club deciding not to renew their deal, contracts across Europe are often allowed to expire. When that happens, players become free agents—available without any transfer fee.

This summer has already seen high-profile free transfers, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kevin De Bruyne, and Leroy Sané securing new clubs. Real Madrid icon Luka Modric also made a move, departing after the Club World Cup to join AC Milan.

But who remains unsigned with just days left on their contracts? Here are the top 5 best players still available on a free transfer.

Top 5 Players Available on a Free Transfer in 2025

5. Nélson Semedo

At present, Wolves captain Nélson Semedo has yet to accept the contract extension that’s been on the table for several weeks. Reports suggest the club is aiming to reduce its wage bill, and with Semedo earning a reported £80,000 per week, he’s among the highest-paid players at Molineux. As things stand, he’s expected to depart when his contract expires next week.

Since arriving from Barcelona in 2020, Semedo has been a dependable presence in the Wolves lineup, featuring in at least 34 of 38 Premier League matches in four of his five seasons.

Originally a midfielder, Semedo’s composure and technique on the ball have added consistent attacking impetus from full-back. He recorded 11 shot-ending carries in the Premier League last season—the second-highest total among players who weren’t attackers or central midfielders, just behind Neco Williams (12).

The big question now is whether another Premier League side will offer him a fresh start, or if he’ll have to explore opportunities beyond England.

4. Abdoulaye Doucouré

After five solid years at Everton, Abdoulaye Doucouré is set to depart this summer. Now 32, his time at the top level may be winding down—but the experienced midfielder still looks capable of contributing at a competitive standard, meaning we might not have seen the last of the former Watford star just yet.

Despite his age, Doucouré remains physically robust, starting 31 matches in the 2024–25 season and continuing to thrive in the demanding environment of the Premier League. Far from being a passive presence, he ranked seventh across the entire league for pressures applied (959), including 618 in the middle third—also the seventh-most—highlighting his relentless work rate and stamina.

A dependable performer in England’s top flight for nearly a decade, Doucouré’s energy, experience, and defensive work ethic suggest he could still offer real value to a side needing midfield steel. He may no longer be at his peak, but he likely has a couple of strong years left in the tank.

3. Victor Lindelöf

Victor Lindelöf is set to bid farewell to Manchester United after eight years at Old Trafford—a spell in which he lifted both the FA Cup and League Cup, but gradually saw his role diminish. Despite manager Ruben Amorim favouring a three-man defence and a string of injuries affecting United’s backline, Lindelöf made only six Premier League starts in the 2024–25 season.

The timing feels right for the Swedish defender to seek a new challenge, and he could prove a smart free signing for a Premier League side—particularly one that prefers to operate in a deeper defensive block. Lindelöf’s standout performances came during José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s counter-attacking eras, and even last season, he averaged more clearances per 90 minutes (4.7) than any other United player with 200+ minutes played. His reading of the game and defensive instincts remain strong.

While he has occasionally struggled when exposed to pace and space in behind, a move to a club with a more conservative shape could bring out the best in him. Additionally, Lindelöf’s technical ability makes him an asset in possession. Comfortable on both sides of central defence and proficient with either foot, he fits the mould of the modern ball-playing centre-back—an essential trait in an era where every Premier League side builds from the back.

Across 194 Premier League appearances, Lindelöf boasts a pass completion rate of 89.2%, underlining his calmness under pressure. For clubs in search of a reliable, composed defender without a transfer fee attached, Lindelöf could be an ideal addition.

2. Lucas Vázquez

Lucas Vázquez’s remarkable journey with Real Madrid has officially come to a close this summer, as the versatile veteran departs the Santiago Bernabéu a decade after making his first-team debut in 2015.

Once a lively winger, Vázquez gradually reinvented himself as an attacking full-back and evolved into a reliable leader for Los Blancos. Over the course of 401 appearances, he collected an enviable trophy haul—four La Liga titles and five Champions League crowns—while consistently contributing across the pitch.

Impressively, despite spending more than half of his Madrid minutes at right-back, Vázquez maintained a strong attacking output. He averaged 0.39 goal contributions per 90 minutes across all competitions during his 10-year stint. Even in his final season, with minutes limited and his role firmly in defence, he recorded five assists in La Liga—bettered only by Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham (eight each) and Luka Modric (six).

Now 33 and turning 34 the day after his contract officially ends, Vázquez may not have many years left at the top level, especially given his game has relied heavily on pace, agility, and sharp footwork. Still, with his experience, winning mentality, and attacking instincts, he represents a savvy free-agent pickup for clubs in need of depth and leadership.

1. Dominic Calvert-Lewin

After nine seasons at Everton, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to move on this summer, bringing an end to a long chapter at Goodison Park as he seeks a fresh challenge elsewhere.

While the striker may not be inundated with offers from top-tier clubs, his work ethic and physical presence remain valuable assets. Calvert-Lewin’s goal tally—57 goals in 239 Premier League appearances—is modest for a central forward. He hit double digits only twice, with 13 goals in 2019–20 and 16 the following season. In his other seven campaigns, he failed to score more than seven goals, netting just three times in 26 appearances last season. It’s been over three years since his last England cap, highlighting how far he’s fallen down the pecking order.

Crucially, the issue isn’t just the team’s struggles—Calvert-Lewin has underperformed individually in front of goal. Since joining Everton, he’s scored 18.3 fewer goals than expected based on xG, the worst differential of any Premier League player during that period.

Still, Calvert-Lewin’s game is about more than just finishing. He’s a tireless worker, excels in aerial duels, and often occupies multiple defenders, creating valuable space for teammates. His influence is clear in Everton’s results: over the past five seasons, the club has won 35.5% of the games he started, compared to just 26.5% when he didn’t.

As he prepares for the next chapter of his career, it’ll be intriguing to see where Calvert-Lewin lands—and whether a new environment can help reignite the spark that once made him an England regular.

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