More and more footballers are taking their fate into their own hands, and in 2025 things will reach a whole new level.
Elite players such as Kylian Mbappe and David Alaba have left the biggest clubs in the world strapped for funds as they preferred to make their own move when their contracts expired.
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Mbappe became the most valuable free agent signing of all timeSource: Getty
Profit and sustainability rules in the Premier League and spending caps in LaLiga mean traditional big spenders are pinching their pennies and their players are responding.
Mbappe’s summer move to Real Madrid saw Paris Saint-Germain lose more than £200 million, and many other club directors will soon join the Parisians with their heads in their hands.
Liverpool in particular have three giant names whose contracts expire next summer, and they are not the only ones.
Taking all this into account, the 2025 free agent market could be one of the most incredible ever, with the next eleven superstars who have yet to sign a contract worth a staggering £385 million, according to Transfermarkt.
Manuel Neuer for £3 million
Neuer, who has by far the lowest rating on the list, may be the most legendary player on the pitch considering he won it all with Bayern Munich and Germany.
His 2014 class was arguably the best goalkeeper we’ve ever seen, and even at the age of 38, he can still produce games where he makes penalty saves and one-on-one stops that are impressive.
Much more valuable to Bayern than his £3m cost, the Bavarians have Alexander Nubel in Stuttgart waiting to be promoted, meaning someone could sign one of the greatest players of all time for free.
Trent Alexander-Arnold for £58 million
From the lowest to the highest valuation on this list, £58 million seems like a bargain for Alexander-Arnold, so it would be pure madness for Liverpool to let him go for free.
But somehow the Reds found themselves in a position where the revolutionary full-back could leave on a free transfer. Real Madrid are said to be interested in a transfer for Mbappe, and given their success in signing Mbappe for free, Liverpool may have already left it too late.
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Liverpool found themselves in a terrible situationSource: Getty
Virgil van Dijk – £25 million
If losing Alexander-Arnold wasn’t bad enough for the future, losing captain Van Dijk would be devastating in the here and now.
The Netherlands captain’s £75m signing from Southampton in 2018 has proven to be one of the most valuable signings in football history, but his next club could get an even bigger deal.
Jason Cundy and Jamie O’hara can’t believe Mohammed Salah hasn’t been offered a contract at Liverpool yet
Jonathan Tah £25 million
Of all the players on this list, Tah seems the most likely to land a free transfer.
After the best season of his career, in which he won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, the German centre-back was desperate to join Bayern Munich in the summer, but Xabi Alonso and company wouldn’t let that happen.
If Bayern does not return for Taha’s free leave, other teams will certainly fight for a player who is currently considered one of the best in his position. Barcelona and Manchester United are closely linked.
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Everyone wants TahaSource: Getty
Alphonso Davies for £41 million
Bayern’s need for Taha may be reinforced by what happens elsewhere in their defense.
Davies, long considered one of the best left-backs in the world, has aged in Bavaria and leaving seems best for all parties.
Madrid have long been linked again and while Bayern seem resigned to losing him, losing £41m, if not more, will be difficult to come to terms with.
Joshua Kimmich £41 million
Back to Bayern. The record Bundesliga champions were once experts at stealing free agents from their rivals, just ask Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka.
But the worm could soon change in spectacular fashion, and not just for Neuer and Davies.
Kimmich’s time at Bayern is reminiscent of Thomas Tuchel, who regularly used the midfielder-right-back combination as an example of everything that was wrong during the team’s disastrous 2024/2025 campaign.
Despised by the former Chelsea boss, Kimmich is returning to his best form this season under Vincent Kompany and Bayern will now be desperate to keep him, but the selection of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City could already turn Kimmich’s attention away.
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Bayern is competing with Liverpool for the worst contract situation in EuropeSource: Getty
Angel Gomes – £23 million
Arguably the most Googled England player over the past few months, Gomes has gone from forgotten in his homeland to an object of fascination following his call-up to the Three Lions and performances under Lee Carsley.
The London-born star, a former Manchester United academy player, has a good chance of making a name for himself in the Premier League next season after Lille disastrously allowed him to extend his contract.
Kevin De Bruyne £37 million
Strongly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer, Man City have refused to let arguably their best ever player leave.
In 2025, they may have no choice. De Bruyne will become a free agent and City will not only lose big money, but the decision not to sign an extension sooner could deprive them of their captain and their talisman.
Mohamed Salah £45 million
Worryingly for Liverpool, their third free agent is on the list and, like De Bruyne, he is another player who could move to Saudi Arabia.
Salah was the subject of rumors of offers worth over £200m during the 2023 SPL frenzy, but now Liverpool could lose him for free. A disastrous decision if Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold also leave.
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The Premier League may have to say goodbye to two iconsSource: Getty
Heung-min’s son £37 million
Two years after losing Harry Kane, Tottenham could feel more pain if they fail to convince Son to re-sign.
Already a club legend and their captain, Spurs are running out of time to sign a player who would improve any team in the Premier League or on the continent.
Leroy Sane 50 million pounds
The second most highly valued player on this list and third from Bundesliga giants Bayern could be in for a summer of hell.
Sane is probably the least needed of the quartet of potential free agents with Michael Olise keeping him firmly on the bench, but a £50m loss would be devastating to the team’s chances of rebuilding elsewhere.
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The potential talent he offers is amazing