Summer transfer window 2023 top players available on a free: Who is out of contract and where will they sign?

Joel Sritharan

Summer transfer window 2023 top players available on a free: Who is out of contract and where will they sign? image

The 2023 summer transfer window provides a chance for clubs to sign big-name players for free as they look to achieve their goals for the upcoming season.

More and more players decide to run down their contracts to have more options in the window and to try to increase their potential salary as a transfer fee would not need to be paid.

With many clubs still struggling with the economic ramifications from the pandemic, free transfers are more important than ever. Barcelona signed Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso for free last summer. 

The Sporting News brings you the best players currently available for a free transfer in the upcoming summer window. 

MORE: Lionel Messi's new club in 2023? Latest transfer news involving Inter Miami, Al Hilal, Barcelona and PSG

Players out of contract in the summer transfer window 2023

The following players are some of the big names who are out of contract this summer. They could choose to re-sign with their current teams, but most of them will choose to play for a new team.

Goalkeepers

David de Gea will leave Manchester United after the club opted against activating their extension clause on him with the veteran stopper not included on their retained list. 

Player Age Current Club Future
David de Gea 32 Manchester United Undecided
David Soria 30 Getafe Undecided
Inaki Pena 24 Barcelona Renewal underway
Loris Karius 29 Newcastle United Undecided
Guillermo Ochoa 37 Salernitana Renewal underway

Defenders

Milan Skriniar has agreed to join PSG in July, in a move which saw him stripped of the Inter captaincy. Evan Ndicka has also left Frankfurt to join Jose Mourinho's AS Roma on a five-year free transfer deal.

Player Age Current Club Future
Milan Skriniar 28 Inter PSG
Alejandro Grimaldo 27 Benfica Bayer Leverkusen
Caglar Soyuncu 26 Leicester Undecided
Mats Hummels 34 Borussia Dortmund Undecided
Daley Blind 33 Bayern Munich Leaving

MORE: Liverpool transfer targets not named Jude Bellingham: Top 5 potential candidates in lieu of England star

Midfielders

Real Madrid midfield duo Toni Kroos and Dani Ceballos have both signed contract extensions with Luka Modric also committing his immediate future to the club. Houssem Aouar and Daichi Kamada are both set to be on the move with N'Golo Kante joining Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad.

The biggest midfield free transfer move so far comes via Ilkay Gundogan opting to walk away from Manchester City, after captaining them to the treble in 2022/23, with the German international joining Barcelona.

Player Age Current Club Future
Youri Tielemans 25 Leicester Aston Villa
Luka Modric 37 Real Madrid Undecided
Ilkay Gundogan 32 Man City Barcelona
N'Golo Kante 32 Chelsea Al Ittihad
Houssem Aouar 24 Lyon AS Roma
Adrien Rabiot 28 Juventus Club want him to stay
Daichi Kamada 26 Frankfurt Leaving
James Rodriguez 31 N/A Free agent
Isco 31 N/A Free agent

Forwards

Lionel Messi has agreed a move to MLS side Inter Miami as his PSG contract expires in June with former Real Madrid rival Karim Benzema joining Kante at Al Ittihad.

Roberto Firmino is on the market following his departure from Liverpool with other options available in the free transfer window including Marcus Thuram, Wilfried Zaha and Marco Asensio.

Player Age Current Club Future
Lionel Messi 35 PSG Inter Miami
Marcus Thuram 25 Borussia Monchengladbach Leaving
Wilfried Zaha 30 Crystal Palace Undecided
Roberto Firmino 31 Liverpool Leaving
Marco Asensio 27 Real Madrid Leaving
Angel Di Maria 35 Juventus Negotiations ongoing
Adama Traore 27 Wolves Undecided
Reiss Nelson 23 Arsenal Negotiations ongoing

Top players still available on a free in the summer transfer window 2023

With a number of players already confirming their plans for the 2023/24 season those left available are heavily focused on forward roles.

The steady stream of stars accepting moves to Saudi Arabia has opened up an new option in the coming weeks as the build up to the new campaign continues.

Roberto Firmino

  • Age: 31
  • Position: Forward
  • Rumoured destinations: Al Ahli, Atletico Madrid

Brazilian international Firmino attracted some early attention from Spain with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone looking for a budget option to bolster his attack.

However, widespread reports claim he is on the verge of accepting a move to Saudi team Al Ahli, as part of their push to sign more Premier League stars.

Marco Asensio

  • Age: 27
  • Position: Midfield/Forward
  • Rumoured destinations: Arsenal, Aston Villa, PSG

Asensio confirmed his decision to leave Real Madrid after seven seasons in the Spanish capital and a host of major titles won. The Spanish winger had grown frustrated at a reduced role in Carlo Ancelotti's plans and he now moves on.

Unai Emery was linked with an offer, as part of his La Liga revolution at Aston Villa, with Mikel Arteta also considering him as a squad option at Arsenal.

However, Ligue 1 giants PSG look to be closing in on an agreement, to reunite Asensio with his former Spain boss Luis Enrique in Paris.

Joel Sritharan

Joel Sritharan Photo

Joel Sritharan is a freelance writer for Sporting News UK.