Sunday, December 22, 2024

Martial, Depay & Rabiot – the free agents still available

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The summer transfer window has closed and Premier League clubs have spent hundreds of millions of pounds strengthening their squads.

But teams who missed out on targets can still bring in free agents, players who are not under contract and are available to sign.

There are hundreds out there looking to find a club.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of those still on the market.

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas celebrates winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2018Goalkeeper Keylor Navas celebrates winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2018
Keylor Navas is a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid [Getty Images]

Keylor Navas, 37, announced his departure from Paris St-Germain in May and was reportedly set to join Italian side Monza on a free transfer when the deal collapsed.

The former Costa Rica goalkeeper spent five years at Real Madrid and a further five at PSG. He also made 17 Premier League appearances during a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2022-23.

Serge Aurier in action for Tottenham during a pre-season friendly against Chelsea in 2021Serge Aurier in action for Tottenham during a pre-season friendly against Chelsea in 2021
Serge Aurier made a combined 113 Premier League appearances for Tottenham and Nottingham Forest [Getty Images]

Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest full-back Serge Aurier, 31, played alongside former Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha at Galatasaray towards the end of last season before leaving in the summer.

The highly experienced Ivory Coast defender is a two-time Ligue 1 winner with Paris St-Germain.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip with the Champions League trophy after helping his side defeat Tottenham in the final in 2019.Liverpool defender Joel Matip with the Champions League trophy after helping his side defeat Tottenham in the final in 2019.
Joel Matip played in the 2019 Champions League final when Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid [Getty Images]

Joel Matip, 33, bid farewell to Liverpool in the summer after eight seasons.

He helped the club win the Premier League and the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp after joining from Schalke on a free transfer.

Matip has since been linked with several clubs including West Ham.

Mats Hummels in action during the 2024 Champions League final against Real MadridMats Hummels in action during the 2024 Champions League final against Real Madrid

Germany 2014 World Cup winner Mats Hummels played in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund in June when they lost to Real Madrid at Wembley.

It was the 35-year-old’s final appearance for the club.

Hummels, whose former clubs also include Bayern Munich, has since been strongly linked with a move to Roma .

Manchester United's Brandon Williams applauds fans after a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in 2023Manchester United's Brandon Williams applauds fans after a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in 2023

Brandon Williams, 24, was 19 when he scored for Manchester United in a 3-3 Premier League draw with Sheffield United in 2019.

Williams, who had been at United since the age of nine, was released in the summer after 51 first-team appearances.

He remains without a new club.

Victor Moses celebrates a Spartak Moscow goal in 2021Victor Moses celebrates a Spartak Moscow goal in 2021
Victor Moses played for five clubs in the Premier League – Wigan, Chelsea, Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham [Getty Images]

Victor Moses, 33, is looking for a new club after leaving Spartak Moscow.

Moses played 220 Premier League games for five clubs, including Chelsea and Liverpool.

He spent nine years at Chelsea between 2012 and 2021 after joining from Wigan for £9m.

Central midfield – Adrien Rabiot

Adrien Rabiot in action for France against Spain in the semi-finals at Euro 2024Adrien Rabiot in action for France against Spain in the semi-finals at Euro 2024

Adrien Rabiot played for France at Euro 2024 [Getty Images]

Adrien Rabiot, 29, left Juventus at the end of his contract having made 212 appearances with the Serie A side after signing from Paris St-Germain in 2019.

The former Manchester City academy player has been linked with Manchester United. Rabiot played for France in the 2022 World Cup final when they lost on penalties to Argentina.

Andre Gomes in action for Everton against Burnley in the Premier League in 2023-24Andre Gomes in action for Everton against Burnley in the Premier League in 2023-24
Andre Gomes made 100 Premier League appearances for Everton between 2018-2024 [Getty Images]

Andre Gomes, 31, left Everton, who paid £22m for him in 2019, when his contract expired after the 2023-24 season.

The Portugal international’s CV includes spells at Barcelona, Valencia and Lille.

Reports suggested Gomes was set to move to the United States to play in the MLS but he remains without a club.

Robert Skov controls the ball during Hoffenheim's Bundesliga match with Heidenheim in January 2024Robert Skov controls the ball during Hoffenheim's Bundesliga match with Heidenheim in January 2024

Robert Skov spent five seasons at Hoffenheim [Getty Images]

Robert Skov, 28, was once dubbed Denmark’s answer to Gareth Bale. The goalscoring winger, once linked with Tottenham, played at the 2022 World Cup but remains without a club after five years in Germany with Hoffenheim.

Skov made more than 100 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 11 times.

Forward – Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup tie in 2023Anthony Martial celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup tie in 2023

Anthony Martial helped Manchester United win the FA Cup, Europa League and two Carabao Cups during nine years at Old Trafford [Getty Images]

Manchester United announced in May that Anthony Martial would be leaving the club after scoring 90 goals in 317 appearances.

The French striker is still only 28 years old yet he remains without a club.

Reports in France suggest Lille, who face Liverpool in the Champions League this season, are interested in Martial and are working on a deal to secure his signature.

Forward – Memphis Depay

Netherlands forward Memphis Depay in action against England in the Euro 2024 semi-finalNetherlands forward Memphis Depay in action against England in the Euro 2024 semi-final

Memphis Depay played against England in the Netherlands’ 2-1 semi-final defeat at Euro 2024 [Getty Images]

Memphis Depay, 30, helped the Netherlands reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

He is on the hunt for a new club after missing a chunk of Atletico Madrid‘s 2023-24 season because of injury.

The former Manchester United player spent 18 months at Barcelona and has also played in France at Lyon.

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