The summer transfer window sees clubs splashing the cash as they look to bolster their squads ahead of another marathon campaign, and we’ve already seen significant sums exchanged for the game’s biggest talents.
Elliot Anderson is moving to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in a £116m move, while Tottenham have secured a double deal for Matheus Fernandes (£85m) and Sandro Tonali (£100m) from West Ham and Newcastle respectively.
And the North London club have already made their mark in the free-agent market, snapping up Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi and Liverpool legend Andrew Robertson following the expiration of their contracts.
Leeds United have also moved quickly in the free agent market after reaping the rewards of the strategy last summer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin enjoyed a renaissance at Elland Road, scoring 14 goals and providing one assist to earn a recall to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the friendlies last March.
The Yorkshire side have doubled down on that approach this summer, with Fulham winger Harry Wilson agreeing a four-year deal, according to Mail Sport’s Simon Jones. The Welsh international arrives after an impressive campaign in which he scored 10 goals and supplied seven assists.
But there is still plenty of elite talent available. Daily Mail Sport has selected the strongest Premier League Free Agent XI, lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring players who are still searching for a new club…
Goalkeeper: Stefan Ortega
Despite being 33, Stefan Ortega remains one of the standout goalkeepers available on a free transfer. The two-time Premier League winner found opportunities limited at Manchester City and spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, making just three Premier League appearances.
Stefan Ortega spent last year on loan at Nottingham Forest from Manchester City
The German, however, proved his quality in Europe. Ortega featured seven times as Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals, keeping three clean sheets and producing a string of impressive displays to remind clubs of his pedigree.
Comfortable with the ball at his feet and boasting vast experience at the highest level, Ortega represents a low-risk, high-quality option for clubs seeking an experienced No 1 or reliable competition between the posts.
Defender: Tyrell Malacia
Manchester United paid £14million to sign Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord in 2022, but injuries meant the Dutch full-back never came close to justifying that fee. The 26-year-old made just 28 Premier League appearances during his three years at Old Trafford, working out at £500,000 per league outing.
After missing the entire 2023-24 campaign through injury, Malacia spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven in a bid to rediscover his sharpness, although he managed just three Premier League appearances last season after returning to England.
Despite an injury-hit spell at United, there is still plenty for potential suitors to like. 22 of his 28 league appearances came during an encouraging debut campaign, when he played a key role in Erik ten Hag’s side lifting the Carabao Cup, starting four of their five matches on the road to Wembley. At 26, the Netherlands international still has time to revive a career once regarded as one of Europe’s brightest at left-back.
Defender: John Stones
Pep Guardiola’s decision to convert a centre-back into a holding midfielder proved a masterstroke during Manchester City’s Treble-winning campaign, and now the versatile defender, who completed six out of six successful dribbles in a Champions League final, a feat only bettered by Lionel Messi, is available on a free transfer.
Manchester City’s £47.5 million move for John Stones from Everton in 2016 was initially met with scepticism. Branded error-prone and overpriced during his early years at the Etihad, a decade on the “Barnsley Beckenbauer” has let his accolades speak for themselves, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, and a host of other honours under Pep Guardiola, who will also end his Manchester City career at the same time.
John Stones is at the World Cup with England, where he started the opener against Croatia
Injuries ultimately limited Stones’ involvement last season, but at 32 he remains one of the most intelligent options on the market. Comfortable stepping into midfield and capable of dictating play from deep, the former City star would be a major signing for any club seeking proven experience and versatility.
Now, as reported by Daily Mail Sport’s Mike Keegan, Bayern Munich are considering a move for the England international on a free transfer, with a reunion alongside former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany potentially on the cards.
Defender: Axel Tuanzebe
The next player on the list finds himself in the exact same position as he was last year. However, this time he has even more Premier League experience under his belt and an upcoming Round of 16 clash against England to prepare for.
Before Axel Tuanzebe’s dramatic 100th-minute extra-time winner in DR Congo’s World Cup play-off, the nation had not competed at a FIFA World Cup since 1974. Despite suffering relegation from the Premier League with Burnley last season, the Congolese international is expected to attract interest from newly promoted clubs this summer.
Tuanzebe is no stranger to a new challenge, which was evident in 2020 when Ole Gunnar Solskjær made the shock decision to start the then 22-year-old centre-back against a Paris Saint-Germain side featuring Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. The game ended in a famous 2-1 victory for Manchester United and is the game where Tuanzebe introduced himself to the world. His recovery pace was on full display as he matched Mbappé stride for stride before executing a perfectly timed tackle inside the penalty area.
Defender: Joel Veltman
One of Brighton’s most underrated signings will become a free agent after spending six years at the club, proving his reliability and versatility throughout his time as a Seagull. While Brighton pride themselves on developing young talent and future stars, they should not underestimate the value of signing a dependable player like Joel Veltman for just £900,000.
The Dutch international arrived from Ajax in 2020 and has quietly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders. Comfortable at both right-back and centre-back, Veltman has made over 170 appearances for Brighton, with 28 of them coming last season. Even though Brighton were willing to negotiate a new deal, the full-back is looking for a new adventure.
Joel Veltman (left), against Everton, is leaving Brighton after six years at the Amex
A proven Premier League player with Champions League experience, a three-time Dutch league winner, and 28 appearances for the Dutch national team, Veltman offers leadership, tactical intelligence, and defensive reliability without the financial risk often associated with the transfer market.
Midfielder: Idrissa Gueye
With Simon Jones reporting that a deal has already been agreed for Everton to sign 23-year-old Hayden Hackney, the departure of Idrissa Gana Gueye, who is set to become a free agent tomorrow, could make the transition even easier.
With a Round of 16 clash against Belgium to prepare for, the Senegalese midfielder has put contract talks with the Merseyside club on hold until his World Cup campaign is over. Despite turning 36, Gueye has shown no signs of slowing down, playing 268 of a possible 270 minutes at the tournament.
Should Everton fail to reach an agreement, the experienced midfielder would become one of the standout free agents on the market. Having made over 200 Premier League appearances across spells with Aston Villa and Everton, as well as featuring 25 times for the Toffees last season, Gueye remains renowned for his relentless ball-winning ability, energy, and leadership in midfield.
Midfielder: Yves Bissouma
To complete the African midfield double pivot is a former Europa League winner who never quite lived up to expectations. Despite showing occasional sparks during his time in North London, Yves Bissouma will leave Tottenham Hotspur knowing he had more to offer.
After a summer exit last year failed to materialise, it came as no real surprise that the Malian would be leaving this summer. After being frozen out for the majority of last season, injuries handed Bissouma another opportunity under the management of both Igor Tudor and Roberto De Zerbi. Like much of his Tottenham career, however, the midfielder did not quite do enough in the 11 appearances he was afforded to earn a new contract.
Yves Bissouma leaves Tottenham having never fulfilled his potential
The now 29-year-old will look back fondly on his time at Brighton before his move to Tottenham, where he was labelled as one of the most dominant and complete defensive midfielders in the Premier League. He showcased outstanding ball-carrying ability alongside his relentless ball-winning qualities.
He could prove to be a risky signing due to his disciplinary record, but if a club can rediscover the Brighton version of Bissouma, they could have a bargain on their hands.
Midfielder: Daichi Kamada
Crystal Palace announced in their retained list that they offered Daichi Kamada a new contract two weeks ago as per Boby Manzi, however there is still no agreement. In fairness, the Japanese midfielder has been busy, scoring goals against both the Netherlands and Tunisia during the World Cup. Unfortunately, Brazil ended the creative midfielder’s dreams in cruel fashion with a dramatic 90+5th-minute winner.
Despite being just 30 years old, Kamada has already built an impressive résumé, winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt before lifting the FA Cup and European Confrence league with Crystal Palace. Comfortable operating as a No. 10, central midfielder, or out wide, the Japan international offers versatility, technical quality, and a proven ability to perform on the biggest stage. Should contract talks remain unresolved, there is unlikely to be a shortage of clubs interested in securing his signature.
Forward: Jadon Sancho
Manchester United’s fourth most expensive signing of all time will leave the club as a free agent on July 1. Jadon Sancho arrived with potential in abundance but leaves the club having made more appearances on loan than he did for United.
Despite that remarkable statistic, Sancho still managed to reach a Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, win the Europa League with Aston Villa, and lift the UEFA Conference League with Chelsea. Despite those accolades, the 2023 League Cup was the only trophy the South London-born winger won during his time at Manchester United, where he scored just 12 goals in 83 appearances.
However, at just 26 years old, the former England international remains one of the most technically gifted wingers on the market and could prove to be a bargain for any club willing to pay his sizeable wages and help him rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents at Borussia Dortmund.
At just 26 Jadon Sancho has the potential to star elsewhere after his loan spell at Aston Villa
Forward: Adama Traoré
After signing for West Ham United from Fulham in January, Adama Traoré was released following the Hammers’ relegation to the Sky Bet Championship. The Spanish winger made just nine appearances for the East London side and failed to register a goal contribution in any of them.
After a loan move back to his boyhood club, Barcelona, the La Masia graduate looked set to kick-start his career once again, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Traoré made 17 appearances for the Spanish giants, but after they opted not to activate his £30 million purchase option, he found his way back to the Premier League with Fulham.
Lightning quick and physically dominant, Traoré remains one of the most unique forwards available on the market. While his end product has often been questioned, his blistering pace, strength, and ability to beat defenders one-on-one mean he is still capable of causing problems for any defence on his day.
Forward: Callum Wilson
Leading the line is a veteran Premier League striker with 95 top-flight goals, chasing membership of the prestigious 100-goal club at 34 years old.
Despite his age, the clinical finisher still managed seven goals and one assist in just 1,243 minutes for a struggling West Ham side, including one of the most famous disallowed goals of all time following a late goalmouth scramble against Arsenal.
Callum Wilson is one of the standout free agents available this summer
The Englishman, who has made nine appearances and scored two goals for his country, has already attracted interest from Brentford, and his boyhood club, Championship winners Coventry City, as reported by Daily Mail Sport’s Simon Jones.
Whether he is deployed as a starter or an impact substitute, Wilson’s proven goalscoring record and experience make him one of the standout free agents available this summer.
