The European football market is braced for a significant shake-up as dozens of top-tier players enter the final 18 months of their contracts.
A host of high-profile stars from the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga are among the elite group whose deals expire in the summer of 2026, meaning clubs can begin negotiating pre-contract agreements with them as early as January 2026.
This potential free agent class is one of the most valuable in recent memory, presenting clubs with a rare opportunity to acquire world-class talent without paying a transfer fee.
The impending free agent frenzy is being closely watched by every major club, as signing a player like Bernardo Silva or Marc Guéhi for free would be a massive coup under the watchful eye of PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules).
Six stars entering the final 18 months
The coming months will be critical for their current clubs to secure renewals or risk losing them for nothing.
| Player | Club | Position | Market Value (Approx.) | Status & Context |
| Marc Guéhi | Crystal Palace | Centre-Back | €45 Million | Prime target for top Premier League clubs; monitored by Liverpool. |
| Bernardo Silva | Man City | Attacking Midfield | €38 Million | Has publicly admitted a desire to return to boyhood club Benfica. |
| Dušan Vlahović | Juventus | Centre-Forward | €35 Million | Juventus failed to sell him last summer and now risks losing the striker for free. |
| Mike Maignan | AC Milan | Goalkeeper | €25 Million | Consistently linked with Chelsea; considered one of the world's best goalkeepers. |
| Andrew Robertson | Liverpool | Left-Back | €18 Million | Still an elite, reliable performer, with renewal talks yet to be finalised. |
| Sergej Milinković-Savić | Al-Hilal | Central Midfield | €17 Million | Highly valuable option for European clubs if he decides to return from the Saudi Pro League. |
The implications of the Bosman scramble
The 2026 free agent market is particularly rich in defensive talent, with central defenders Marc Guéhi and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) both highly sought-after.
For Premier League clubs, signing these players on a free transfer is the most cost-effective way to strengthen the squad and avoid the penalties associated with high spending.
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The situation for players like Bernardo Silva is also critical.
Now 31, Silva has been open about his desire to leave Manchester City, making the end of his contract the perfect opportunity for him to secure his desired move without forcing his current club's hand.
The coming January transfer window, when foreign clubs can offer pre-contracts, promises to be one of the busiest periods of negotiation in recent memory.
Comprehensive list of top 2026 free agents
The transfer window will feature a host of top players from across Europe's major leagues.
The following table provides a broader look at some of the most notable names set to become free agents in the summer of 2026.
| Player | Position | Club | League |
| Dayot Upamecano | Centre-Back | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga |
| Ibrahima Konaté | Centre-Back | Liverpool | Premier League |
| Frenkie de Jong | Central Midfield | FC Barcelona | La Liga |
| John Stones | Centre-Back | Man City | Premier League |
| Leon Goretzka | Central Midfield | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga |
| Serge Gnabry | Winger | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga |
| Manuel Neuer | Goalkeeper | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga |
| Antonio Rüdiger | Centre-Back | Real Madrid | La Liga |
| Robert Lewandowski | Centre-Forward | FC Barcelona | La Liga |
| Harry Maguire | Centre-Back | Man Utd | Premier League |
| Callum Wilson | Centre-Forward | Newcastle United | Premier League |
| James Garner | Defensive Midfield | Everton | Premier League |
| Rico Henry | Left-Back | Brentford | Premier League |
| Julian Brandt | Attacking Midfield | Borussia Dortmund | Bundesliga |
| Dani Carvajal | Right-Back | Real Madrid | La Liga |
| Tyrell Malacia | Left-Back | Man Utd | Premier League |
| Stephan El Shaarawy | Winger | AS Roma | Serie A |
| Luka Modrić | Central Midfield | Real Madrid | La Liga |
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