Free agents list

[sunburywhite]

Paul Pogba, 33 (Last club: Monaco)

Former Manchester United midfielder Pogba has played very little football since his 18 month doping ban ended in March 2025. The Frenchman made just six appearances for Monaco after joining them last summer and, after a series of injuries, the French club terminated his contract last month - one year before it was due to end.

Karim Benzema, 38 (Last club: Al Hilal)

French striker Benzema has been plying his trade in Saudi Arabia since leaving Real Madrid in 2023, spending three years with Al Ittihad. But just six months after joining Al-Hilal the Ballon d'Or winner has terminated his contract. The arrival of attacking trio Crysencio Summerville, Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli has perhaps pushed Benzema out and, despite already making three appearances for Al-Hilal this season, his contract was terminated on 31 August.

Riyad Mahrez, 35 (Last club: Al Ahli)

Another player to have had their contract terminated in the Saudi Pro League is five-time Premier League winner Mahrez. The Algeria winger joined Al Ahli from Manchester City in 2023, scoring 37 goals in 122 appearances in all competitions. Reports suggest he will stay in the Saudi league and is close to joining Al-Shabab.

Raheem Sterling, 31 (Last club: Feyenoord)

Sterling was released by Feyenoord after just three months and eight games and is set to appear in court next month to face charges of dangerous driving after crashing his car into motorway barriers in May. Sources told BBC Sport the former Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea winger had faced "an extremely tough couple of years".

Philippe Coutinho, 34 (Last club: Vasco da Gama)

Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Coutinho left his boyhood club Vasco de Gama in February, saying he was "tired mentally". The Brazilian has not officially announced his retirement and has previously been linked with a move to the MLS.

Jadon Sancho, 26 (Last club: Manchester United)

It has been a turbulent few years for Sancho since joining United from Borussia Dortmund for £73m in 2021 and he has spent the last two and-a-half years playing elsewhere on loan, most recently at Aston Villa following a lacklustre period at Chelsea. Sancho made just 30 Premier League appearances for United but has reportedly agreed a move to Brazilian club Palmeiras.

Dani Carvajal, 34 (Last club: Real Madrid)

Widely regarded as one of the best right-backs of his generation, Carvajal has been a free agent since his contract with Real Madrid ended in June. Carvajal made 451 appearances across all competitions for Real in 13 years and has not been linked with a new club. He has reportedly been training at the Spanish Football Federation's facilities over the summer with compatriot and fellow free agent Joselu.

Jamie Vardy, 39 (Last club: Cremonese)

Vardy spent last season with Cremonese after 13 years with Leicester City but relegation to Serie B prompted the Italian side to let the striker go. He has been heavily linked with a move back to the English Football League with Wrexham, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham all reportedly interested.

David Alaba, 34 (Last club: Real Madrid)

Experienced full-back Alaba left Real Madrid in May after five years with the club and, for a spell this summer, Manchester United were the bookies' favourite to sign the Austrian. The former Bayern Munich star has had a storied club career that has yielded 12 league titles and four Champions Leagues. Despite speculation of interest from a number of clubs as his Real contract came to an end, so far, Alaba has not signed for anyone.

Sergio Ramos, 40 (Last club: Monterrey)

Legendary Spanish defender Ramos has been without a club since December 2025 after leaving Mexican side Monterrey. Although aged 40, he has not announced his retirement while some reports suggest he still feels fit enough to compete at a high level. Earlier this year he spearheaded a consortium who attempted to acquire a controlling stake in his former club Sevilla but the bid failed.


Who else is a free agent?

Jordan Ayew, 34 (Last club: Leicester City)

Dele Alli, 30 (Last club: Como)

Joselu, 36 (Last club: Al-Gharafa)

Anthony Martial, 30 (Last club: Monterrey)

Conor Coady, 33 (Last club: Wrexham)

Wilfried Zaha, 33 (Last club: Galatasaray)

James Rodriguez, 35 (Last club: Minnesota United)

Tyrell Malacia, 27 (Last club: Manchester United)

Oleksandr Zinchenko, 29 (Last club: Ajax)

Solly March, 32 (Last club: Brighton and Hove Albion)

Georginio Wijnaldum, 35 (Last club: Al-Ettifaq)

Yves Bissouma, 30 (Last club: Tottenham Hotspur)

[General]

out of all of those, the ones that most likely fill our needs are Zaha, Anthony Martial (best shout given he's 30?)..

I've always liked Zinchenko, but if we got him in it'd be either to let Sess play further forward, or for Zinchenko to be competition for that position.. Alaba!? but he old..

Then, there's always going to be part of me that thinks someone's going to and got to get Jadon Sancho going again. Given how poor our options on the wing are, and the fact he's struggled since leaving Dortmund, could it be a good option for both sides..?

[Fulham 442]

No thanks to any of them but an interesting post nonetheless!

[I Ronic]

Were we interested in Karim Benzema years ago?
Please bear in mind mind I have three odd socks in the laundry at this very moment. So be gentle with your replies!

[Bronaldinho]

Diogo Leite was on there but he's a left footed CB. Now 27

Would probably work in AA system, just we have Bassey and Cuenca - surprised he's not got a club.

[v]

Strangely I think Karim Benzema might do well at Fulham. Yes, another from the Real Madrid  stable (the fourth !) but loadsa know-how and experience to pass on to the likes of Garcia and Muniz, leadership qualities etc.

Might be useful to have as a 20 minute cameo player?

Sancho is a conundrum. Great player at Dortmund but a flop everywhere else. So he'd be a risk. Although again, worth considering.

[copthornemike]

One blast from the past who is now a free agent is Chris Smalling who has been out in Saudi for two years after being bought from Roma.
Now 36.
One of those rare beasts called Centre Backs 😉

[Willham]

As no one has taken a chance on sancho, at 26 and a free agent that's a possible risk worth a chance.

The fact we have a past of reviving players careers, I think we could be exactly what sancho would need.

Possibly....


To add a little caveat, I fear AA would be less effective than silva in this regard. Silva would slowing integrate him into the squad whereas I feel AA would expect more from the lad instantly.

Still, if we could get decent wages, he might be a player to make some money with, get his confidence up, get him playing a role. Sell for 10 to 20 mill while getting 2 seasons worth out of him. That's not too fargetched.

And if he suddenly hit the potential everyone believed. Then great we got a good player or we could sell for a bit more.

[Count Flapula]

I wonder if AA will be on at the mgmt team to give Carvajal a pop at RB given we couldn't get his target in.

TBH in reality I think SCR will make these sorts of signings incredibly difficult for PL clubs given their ages and likely astronomical wage demands when on free transfers.

[hongkongfulham]

As no one has taken a chance on sancho, at 26 and a free agent that's a possible risk worth a chance.

The fact we have a past of reviving players careers, I think we could be exactly what sancho would need.

Possibly....


To add a little caveat, I fear AA would be less effective than silva in this regard. Silva would slowing integrate him into the squad whereas I feel AA would expect more from the lad instantly.

Still, if we could get decent wages, he might be a player to make some money with, get his confidence up, get him playing a role. Sell for 10 to 20 mill while getting 2 seasons worth out of him. That's not too fargetched.

And if he suddenly hit the potential everyone believed. Then great we got a good player or we could sell for a bit more.

I had similar thoughts but I just think (i obviously dont know the guy just an impression） that hed just see fulham as a quick pay check and would not have interest in doing any tracking back or fight if things start going south

[Lordedmundo]

Aside from Benzema - who apparently was earning £2m per week(!)at Al-Hilal - the only name that stands out is Zaha. However, you would think that if he had anything to offer - Palace would have brought him back?

[Willham]

As no one has taken a chance on sancho, at 26 and a free agent that's a possible risk worth a chance.

The fact we have a past of reviving players careers, I think we could be exactly what sancho would need.

Possibly....


To add a little caveat, I fear AA would be less effective than silva in this regard. Silva would slowing integrate him into the squad whereas I feel AA would expect more from the lad instantly.

Still, if we could get decent wages, he might be a player to make some money with, get his confidence up, get him playing a role. Sell for 10 to 20 mill while getting 2 seasons worth out of him. That's not too fargetched.

And if he suddenly hit the potential everyone believed. Then great we got a good player or we could sell for a bit more.

I had similar thoughts but I just think (i obviously dont know the guy just an impression） that hed just see fulham as a quick pay check and would not have interest in doing any tracking back or fight if things start going south

Defintely a case of concern.
But personally I haven't ever felt sancho's failures were to do with a lack of effort. Or a problem with his mind set.

Ive personally seen it as wrong club for the man.
I said it to my man utd friend, 'he will be no good at united'

Which my friend argued against me until he was blue in the face. My argument was that he doesnt fit united. He fits liverpool or arsenal more. Especially the arsenal and liverpool of his time at dortmund.

Still, this is all speculation and someone closer to sancho could probably answer much better.

[Andrew]

It's an interesting list and at face value there are players there that could be very useful additions and a potential swan song for them.

The only reservation with these guys could be that there may be 'issues' that make them less of an attractive proposition.

But like willian, who worked out well, I think they should be considered.

[The Rock]

Zaha in a pinch perhaps.

Jason Koumas and Dwight Gayle are missing would be nice additions too.

[v]

If AA thinks the team needs another winger (seems he wants to give Zepa a chance) and if Sancho is prepared to drop his wage demands big time, then it could work for all parties. But that's a lot of ifs.

Also at 26 maybe Sancho doesn't think he's over the hill yet and ready for the Footballing Knacker's Yard that is Fulham FC (see Willian, Raul, Berba, Litmanen etc etc) 

He can score goals though, which is always a bonus 

[FFC007]

Sancho has gone the way of Dele Alli..

Not for me.

[Jims Dentist]

Shame there is not one who can play at full back and winger at the same time.