The summer international competitions are over and we are fast approaching the start of the new domestic season.
Premier League clubs are already spending big money on players, and there is still over a month to do business before the window shuts on August 30.
Several big name players became free agents at the end of June, after deciding not to renew their contracts with their former clubs.
Some have been picked up, though others still find themselves without a club.
Mail Sport has put together a Free Agents XI of the best players on the market this summer who are out of contract, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Former Borussia Dortmund stars Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are among those without clubs
Goalkeeper – David de Gea
It is truly baffling how a player of David de Gea’s stature has now been without a club for over a year.
The 33-year-old left Manchester United at the end of the 2022-23 season, and has been linked with moves to several teams, including a return to Old Trafford when Andre Onana was struggling in his first months at the club.
Yet the Spaniard who made 545 appearances over 12 seasons at United still finds himself without a team.
De Gea posted an emoji of an hourglass on his X account on Saturday afternoon, suggesting that he could finally be closing in on a return to action. However, he also posted a video in May of him making a save with the caption ‘loading’ – with no update in the two months since.
There are plenty of teams who could do with a new goalkeeper and De Gea could still prove to be a valuable addition for a Premier League team.
Defender – Serge Aurier
The Ivory Coast international is an experienced right-back who has played for clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Villarreal.
The 31-year-old has also made 93 appearances for his country who he has captained to success in the Africa Cup of Nations.
He struggled with injuries which limited him to just 13 appearances for Forest last season, before he completed a transfer to Galatasaray on a short-term contract.
Aurier now finds himself without a club, but he has the leadership skills and quality to make him a solid signing for clubs perhaps at the lower end of the table who need more experience in their squad.
Serge Aurier finds himself without a club after leaving Galatasaray last month
Defender – Joel Matip
Liverpool know all about how good a free agent signing Joel Matip after a successful eight-year stint at Anfield.
Matip, who has been linked with a move to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk, and was perhaps one of the Premier League’s most underrated players of recent seasons.
One issue that often cropped up though was his ability to stay fit, and he missed the second half of the 2023-24 season after picking up an ACL injury against Fulham back in December.
He was a miss for Jurgen Klopp’s side as they dropped off towards the end of the season, and it’s no surprise that Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side are heavily linked with the intelligent centre-back.
Defender – Mats Hummels
Veteran centre-back Mats Hummels saw a return to form last season as he helped guide Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final.
Reports in Italy this week suggested that Real Madrid have joined the race to sign the 35-year-old, who had looked destined to join Bologna as a potential replacement for Arsenal target Riccardo Calafiori.
Hummels made 508 appearances for Dortmund across two spells at the club helping them to two Bundesliga titles.
He left Dortmund for rivals Bayern Munich in 2016, before returning to the club three years later.
He proved last season that he still has a place at the top of the European game, and it’s no surprise to see clubs participating in next season’s Champions League linked with moves for him.
Mats Hummels fell short in the Champions League final in his last game for Borussia Dortmund
Defender – Mario Hermoso
Despite playing 45 times for Atletico Madrid last season, the £25m signing in 2019 decided not to renew his contract with Diego Simeone’s side.
At 29 years of age, arguably the prime of a defender’s career, Hermoso would be an interesting prospect for any top European club – especially when you consider his experience playing in elite European competitions.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been linked with the moves for the versatile defender, with numerous Italian clubs also in the race.
Given his talent and ability to play either left back or centre back, it surely won’t be long until Hermoso is taken off the best Free Agent XI list.
Mario Hermoso was a regular for Atletico Madrid who now finds himself without a club
Midfielder – Marco Reus
Marco Reus’ legendary 12-year stint at Borussia Dortmund came to an end after their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
His decision to leave the club came as he lost his place in the starting XI, with the 35-year-old used as a substitute in the final at Wembley.
It appears as though his time in European football is coming to an end, with LA Galaxy closing in on a deal to sign the veteran German midfielder.
However, the MLS side’s general manager Will Kuntz said that Reus’ contract still needed to be prepared so there still appears to be work that needs to be done for the move to officially go ahead.
Marco Reus’ time at Borussia Dortmund is up and he looks set for a move to the MLS
Midfielder – Guido Rodriguez
It has been an eventful summer for Guido Rodriguez who back in May signed a pre-contract with Barcelona to join the Spanish giants.
However, that move fell through and then a new contract with Real Betis appeared to be the likely option, only for the club’s chief executive Manu Fajardo to come out and say that re-signing the Argentine midfielder looks unlikely.
It has left the 30-year-old at a loose end, though the news surrounding Rodriguez will surely alert other clubs.
Rodriguez was a member of both Argentina’s 2022 World Cup, and 2024 Copa America winning squads.
However, he played just 57 minutes against Mexico in Qatar and made a 13 minute cameo against Peru at Copa America.
Guido Rodriguez was part of Argentina’s Copa America winning team this summer
Midfield – Adrien Rabiot
Once touted with joining Manchester United, the Juventus midfielder has represented France on 48 occasions, scoring four times.
Last season, Rabiot has made 29 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady and managed seven goal contributions.
Given the calibre of teams the 29-year-old has represented throughout his career, he would be an interesting option for a top European side.
Manchester United continue to be linked with Rabiot, though the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan are also said to be keeping an eye on him.
One potential issue though could be his wages, and it was the robust demands of his agent mother, Veronique, which was why a move to Old Trafford collapsed in the past.
Adrien Rabiot has been linked with a number of top European clubs since leaving Juventus
Forward – Anthony Martial
Manchester United and Anthony Martial decided not to extend his contract with the club, calling time on the tenure of a player who greatly underachieved in England.
Since returning from his loan spell at Spanish side Sevilla, the forward has contributed just one goal in 13 Premier League games last season.
Although his time at Manchester United was largely unsuccessful, Martial has still managed to score 63 goals in 209 games for the English club.
He will still surely attract interest from sides around Europe, though it’s unlikely a Premier League team will take a risk on him given his recent lack of success.
Anthony Martial failed to hit the lofty heights expected of him during his time at Man United
Forward – Memphis Depay
Leading the line in this Free Agent XI is Memphis Depay, who is a free agent after his contract at Atletico Madrid expired.
The 31-year-old mostly came off the bench last season as he scored nine goals in 31 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side.
Despite this he started every game for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, helping them reach the semi-finals where they were knocked out by England.
Depay struggled during his only stint in the Premier League at Manchester United between 2015 and 2017, with his best days coming at Lyon, though his time in LaLiga with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid proved to be somewhat successful.
At the time of writing there have been no clubs that have been strongly linked with Depay, though it would be no surprise to see him rock up at a strong European side as an option.
Memphis Depay started every game for the Netherlands as they reached the semi-finals at Euro 2024
Forward – Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez completes a front three of players who all struggled during their time at Manchester United.
A brilliant player in his prime, the 35-year-old is now some way off the player whose prime came during his stints at Barcelona and Arsenal.
He only scored four goals in 33 games during his second stint at Inter Milan and now he is back on the lookout for a new club.
However, he could be set to stay in the Serie A, with his former side Udinese reportedly ‘serious’ about a reunion with the forward.
Alexis Sanchez has been linked with a return to Udinese after leaving Inter Milan this summer
