With the 2025 summer transfer window open, the real juice is in the players whose contracts expire in 2026, who should really be in talks by now.
While talk swirls of the players available on a free transfer in 2025, we’ve ranked – in order of value according to Transfermarkt – the 20 biggest stars currently due to become free agents next year.
20) Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)
Contract talks have been opened but Roma, Napoli and Manchester United have all been linked with a move.
19) Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal)
After moving to Saudi Arabia to set up his family for life, Neves seems in no hurry to sign on again. Many European clubs would be interested if he became available for free.
18) Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)
No contract talks for now with one of Dortmund’s highest earners, but the word from Germany is that they have no incentive to sell.
17) John Stones (Manchester City)
We happen to believe that Stones re-joining Everton might be the best thing for him and for England.
16) Adrian Rabiot (Marseille)
Two years after joining the French club on a free transfer, we are all going to do the same dance again.
15) Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Chelsea baulked at his valuation in June but we reckon he is the best goalkeeper available this summer.
14) Yves Bissouma (Tottenham)
The Spurs man hasn’t been linked with any clubs despite his contract situation.
13) Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
That expiring contract is one reason why United do not want to agree to another loan, but his £25m asking price sounds high when he will be free this time next year.
12) Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton)
“I don’t like to plan ahead. I live one day at a time, but I plan everything for the near future. I have a contract with Everton now, I’m happy at this club. In principle, I would like to stay here. Plans…I don’t want to plan anything. I’m at Everton now, I’m in a good mood and the weather is great. Everything is great.”
11) Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur)
Talks had reportedly opened with the Uruguay midfielder, but he will be 28 this summer and Spurs might be tempted to take some cash from Atletico Madrid.
10) Quinten Timber (Feyenoord)
The Other Timber is said to be close to signing on for another year with the Dutch giants before inevitably following his brother to the Premier League.
9) Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
Surely Brentford will not sell both him and Bryan Mbeumo in the same summer?
8) Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
One of the best strikers in world football who is currently available at the right price. He has not scored nearly enough goals for Juventus to offer him a new contract; they would prefer to sell him this summer. Manchester United have been linked.
7) Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
It feels like he has been trying to leave for almost as long as he has been a Manchester City player. But he’s now captain and approaching his final year with the Blues.
6) Raul Asensio (Real Madrid)
No announcement as yet but the young centre-half is said to have agreed a new long-term contract.
5) Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
‘No hurry’ says the goalkeeper’s agent as contract talks have begun with PSG amid talk of interest from Inter Milan. He now has a Champions League medal and extra bargaining power. Surely talk of Manchester United is just to hurry the Parisiens along.
4) Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
His former club Chelsea are said to be interested along with Liverpool and Newcastle, who tried and failed to sign him last summer. But he is said to be closer to the Reds.
3) Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
“I want to play football and then I’ll see what the club wants to do with me and then I’ll decide what I want to do, together with my agent and my family,” said the Dutchman. The problem? The club want to reduce his wages.
2) Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
He’s rated highly by Vincent Kompany (who knows a few things about being a centre-back) so Bayern are said to be ready to open talks.
1) Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
A new deal was said to be imminent in October, but this Liverpool regime have proved to be frankly awful at closing these deals. Real Madrid are said to be very interested.
