The Annual Scramble for Free Agents in the Summer Transfer Window
The closing stages of the summer transfer window are always a hectic time for football clubs. Last-minute sales need to be accounted for, and early-season injuries need to be covered. However, with transfer budgets already spent, clubs must now look for cheaper options. And the cheapest players available are those without clubs, commonly known as free agents.
In the last week of the transfer window, The Athletic has taken a look at some of the players who are still available for free. Surprisingly, some of the biggest stars of world football over the last decade are among them.
One of the most surprising players without a club is David de Gea. The Manchester United goalkeeper, whose deal had officially expired, expected to play another year at the club. However, it was not until July that the decision was made for him to leave. Despite links with Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia, De Gea is still without a new employer.
Another player without a club is Sergio Ramos, De Gea’s former international teammate. Ramos left Paris-Saint Germain at the end of the season, and rumors linking him with a move to one of Turkish football’s big clubs have intensified. A switch to the Middle East cannot be ruled out either.
Eden Hazard, who joined Real Madrid for a staggering €100 million in 2019, is also without a club. His move to the Spanish capital turned out to be a disaster due to injuries, and there is a chance he could retire after his departure was confirmed earlier this summer.
Jesse Lingard is another player looking for a new team this summer. Last year, Lingard had the pick of a couple of Premier League clubs following his departure from Manchester United. Instead of choosing West Ham United, where he had shone on loan previously, he chose Nottingham Forest. Lingard has spent some time training with West Ham during the last few weeks, but it is unclear whether they will look to sign him again.
These are just a few examples of the many players available on free transfers this summer. Clubs have the opportunity to sign them even after the transfer window is closed. However, they may not be able to play immediately as each league has a squad registration deadline. In the Premier League, clubs have until Wednesday, September 13, to sign and register any free agents for their 25-man squads. Any players signed after that would have to wait until the next transfer window opens on January 1 to be included in the squad.
The summer transfer window is always an exciting time for football fans, and the availability of free agents adds another layer of intrigue. As clubs scramble to strengthen their squads before the deadline, these players without clubs can be valuable additions at a lower cost. It will be interesting to see which clubs take advantage of this opportunity and secure the services of these talented free agents.
In conclusion, the summer transfer window is in its final stages, and clubs are looking for cheaper options to strengthen their squads. Free agents, players without clubs, are the cheapest options available. Surprisingly, some of the biggest stars in world football, such as David de Gea, Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, and Jesse Lingard, are currently without a club. These players offer a great opportunity for clubs to add talent at a lower cost. However, it’s important to note that although free agents can be signed at any time throughout the year, they may not be able to play immediately due to squad registration deadlines. The Premier League, for example, allows clubs almost a fortnight to sign and register free agents before the registration deadline for the 25-man squads on September 13. Any players signed after that would have to wait until the next transfer window opens in January to be included in the squad.