Free agents still available to sign this summer after the transfer window

Martin Macdonald

• 2 Sept 2021 16:15 BST
• 3 min read

The 2020/21 summer transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday with many clubs waiting until near the deadline to secure deals.

Towards the end of the window we saw some massive transfers such as Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United from Juventus, Antoine Griezmann going back to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona, and Saul Niguez heading to Stamford Bridge on loan to Chelsea.

In terms of paid-for transfers, clubs will have to deal with the playing squads they have for the moment, until January at least when the winter window opens.

FOOTBALLTRANSFERS' MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD

However, clubs will still be able to sign free agents and register them to play as long as they have a current unoccupied spot within their squads.

So, here is a selection of players currently without a club.

David Luiz

Last summer when David Luiz was granted an extension to his Arsenal contract, many fans at the club were surprised as he failed to make the grade since the surprise move from Chelsea.

Now, he finds himself as a free agent, but could be set for a return to football with Lazio as Maurizio Sarri is apparently keen on taking the Brazilian to Rome.

Serge Aurier

From the tenure of Jose Mourinho onwards at Tottenham, Serge Aurier's future never looked particularly bright at the club.

Singled out for criticism, the Frenchman fell out with Mourinho and was not part of Nuno Espirito Santo's plans either as not long after Spurs announced the signing of Emerson Royal from Barcelona, Aurier's contract was cancelled mutually.

He has been linked with Arsenal, which would certainly be interesting...

Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery may be 38-years-old and a free agent, but it doesn't seem like he wants to hang up his boots just yet.

After leaving Fiorentina, Ribery was even linked with a shock return to Bayern Munich, as unlikely as that may have been.

He proved in Serie A last year he still has a moment of magic or two in him, and the most likely scenario at the moment appears to be joining Hellas Verona.

His preferred choice would be moving back to Germany to be closer to his family, however.

Hatem Ben Arfa

It seems like Hatem Ben Arfa has been around forever, but at 34 he could potentially still do a job for someone - if he keeps his discipline.

To date, he has played for nine clubs in his career with the latest being Bordeaux in the 2020/21 season in Ligue 1.

He was a first-team player, too, as he made 25 appearances, scoring two goals and recording four assists.

It wasn't enough to earn an extended deal.

Jack Wilshere

Last week Jack Wilshere told the slightly heartbreaking story of how his young son is teased at school for the midfielder not currently having a club.

The Englishman would admit that, at the moment, nobody wants to sign him.

Injuries have destroyed his career, but there is no doubt that if he can stay off the treatment table he could be of use to someone, though top-flight football in England is looking out of the question.

Notable other free agents

Angel Romero

Nicolas N'Koulou

Clement Grenier

Oscar Romero

David Luiz

Gastón Ramírez

Fernando

Pablo Galdames

Robbie Brady

Loris Benito

Jemerson

Rafael

Iván Arboleda

Marko Marin

Vladlen Yurchenko

Eliaquim Mangala

Solomon Kvirkvelia

Sidnei

Shkodran Mustafi

Dimitrios Siovas

Milad Mohammadi

Rodrigo Ely

Maicon

Mateo Musacchio

Dede

Kwang-song Han

Maksim Belyaev

Mohamed Diame

Youssef Aït Bennasser

Dario Melnjak

Nabil Bentaleb

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

Sebastian Giovinco

Daniel Sturridge