Football Manager 2021 free transfers: Best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards

Martin Macdonald

Updated: 19 May 2021 17:24 BST
10 min read

Football Manager 2021 free transfers: Best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards — © ProShots

Football Manager 2021 has been released for a while now, but that doesn’t mean a new game can’t be fired up at any point, with glory awaiting users who master their tactics, man management and, of course, recruitment.

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One of the best aspects of FM 2021 is trying to build that team of superstars who you believe can lead your club to glory. A fantasy XI that will defeat all-comers – and one that would probably be unlikely to happen in the real world!

However, before you manage a club with the big bucks, it could be necessary to trawl the other end of the transfer market – those who are available for free who could come in and do a job for a season or two.

Recruitment can be a minefield at times, but FootballTransfers has you covered.

Players have been ranked using the FMScout rating system as a guide, and to make things simple they have formulated a rating based on metrics like value, attributes, position suitability and age.

Note, they are free transfers at the start of each game.

Football Manager 2021 best free agent goalkeepers

Player	Age	Rating
Heurelho Gomes	39	79
Adam Stachowiak	33	76
Danijel Subasic	35	75
Warner Hahn	28	75
Orjan Nyland	29	74
Diego Benaglio	36	74
Patricio Alvarez	26	74
Rob Elliot	34	74
Dani Gimenez	36	74
Mario Villasanti	38	73

As with every start of FM, there are a flurry of veteran goalkeepers available to pick up for free.

Keepers can play into their 40s within the game, and you can do that easily with the acquisition of the highest-rated free agent goalkeeper, Gomes.

Going slightly younger, and Danijel Subasic and Diego Benaglio represent interesting options.

Football Manager 2021 best free agent central defenders

Having left Valencia after a serious knee injury which has kept him out of action, nobody has taken on Ezequiel Garay yet which is good news for Football Manager players as he is a superb central defensive reinforcement for free.

Player	Age	Rating
Ezequiel Garay	33	80
Francisco Molinero	35	79
Raul Albentosa	31	79
Jozo Simunovic	26	77
Nicolas Pareja	36	76
Ashley Williams	35	75
Georg Niedermeier	34	75
Fernando Amorebieta	35	75
Alexis	34	75
Simon Francis	35	74

Though the list is filled with players the wrong side of 30, former Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic represents an interesting option at just 26 for free if he can be kept fit.

Football Manager 2021 best free agent full-backs

Kwadwo Asamoah is just 31 at the start of the game and represents an excellent choice to come in as a covering wing-back, full-back, or even a left-sided midfielder.

Gal Clichy is getting on in years but could be useful.

Player	Age	Rating
Kwadwo Asamoah (LB)	31	80
Gael Clichy (LB)	35	79
Ivan Strinic (LB)	33	77
Matthias Ostrzolek (LB)	30	75
Victor Alvarez (LB)	27	75
Tito (RB)	35	79
Antonio Valencia (RB)	34	79
Danny Simpson (RB)	33	78
Daryl Janmaat (RB)	31	78
Javi Moyano (RB)	34	77

At right-back, you have two former Premier League winners in Antonio Valencia and Danny Simpson ready to be recruited to bolster your squad.

Football Manager 2021 best free agent midfielders

The 32-year-old Victor Sanchez was released by Espanyol at the summer and it took him a while to find a club. In real life he plays in the Australian A-League with Western United but you can pick up him on a free transfer at the start of FM21.

Yohan Cabaye has retired in the real world but you can still catch him for a year in the game, while Lee Cattermole might be used if a lower league team in England tickles your fancy.

Further forward, bad boy Samir Nasri is one of the highest-rated players on our list, but be sure to treat him well or he won’t be happy, which wouldn’t be like him…

Player	Age	Rating
Victor Sanchez (DM)	32	78
Pirmin Schwegler (DM)	33	76
Mandi (DM)	31	74
Jucilei (DM)	32	74
Lee Cattermole (DM)	32	74
Yohan Cabaye (CM)	34	78
Benat (CM)	33	77
Fredy Guarin (CM)	34	76
Mehmet Ekici (CM)	30	75
Cristobal Jorquera (CM)	31	75
Samir Nasri (AMC)	33	82
Victor Vazquez (AMC)	33	78
Jose Manuel Jurado (AMC)	34	76
Aaron Niguez (AMC)	31	75
Oscar Barreto (AMC)	27	75

Football Manager 2021 best free agent wingers

It seems that most Football Manager games start with Ibrahim Afellay unattached to a team and it is no different here, though the Dutchman is getting on in years.

On the right-hand side, former Athletic Bilbao star Markel Susaeta can still do a job in any of the positions on the right flank, and can be snapped up even at 32.

Football Manager 2021 best free agent forwards

Within the real sport of football, of course, Mario Mandzukic isn’t a free agent at all, as he signed a short-term deal with Milan during the course of the 2020/21 season.

Player	Age	Rating
Ibrahim Afellay (AML)	34	77
Lucas Wilchez (AML	36	77
Pablo de Blasis (AML)	32	76
Jani (AML)	27	76
Dani Pacheco (AML)	29	76
Markel Susaeta (AMR)	32	81
Jefferson Farfan (AMR)	35	76
Samu (AMR)	30	75
Enrique Esqueda (AMR)	32	74
Renato Santos (AMR)	28	74

At the staring point within FM21, though, he remains a free agent and can be picked up, albeit for high wages. You’ll have to be quick, though, as a player of his calibre available on a free gets picked up rather quickly.

There are some other big names available, with Alexandre Pato and Daniel Sturridge available on frees despite both being just 30 years old.

Further down, you have veterans like Emmanuel Adebayor and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Player	Age	Rating
Mario Mandzukic	34	89
Raffael	35	81
Daniel Sturridge	30	80
Alexandre Pato	30	78
Lady N'Doye	35	78
Giampaolo Pazzini	35	77
Lucas Viatri	33	77
Emmanuel Adebayor	36	77
Jonatan Soriano	34	77
Cheick Diabate	32	77
Marco Ruben	33	77