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Thomas Partey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin lead incredible XI of soon-to-be free agents
As clubs around the globe prepare to splash the cash on new signings – teams not looking to break the bank can land some big names for nothing. A host of high-profile players will become available as freebies on July 1 when their contracts expire. Thomas Partey is on the lookout for a new club after failing to agree terms on a new deal at ArsenalGetty It’s already been a hectic summer window, with Premier League champions Liverpool forking out £216million on six new stars. That includes breaking the top-flight record on a single player after bringing in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a package deal worth £116.5million. Manchester City meanwhile have forked out £116m on four new players, with Chelsea set to take their spree to £122m. And Manchester United will also be breaking the £120m mark should they strike an agreement with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo having already purchased Matheus Cunha for £62.5m. But clubs across the globe don’t have to open their purse strings to nab a truly quality player. Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Angel Gomes may have already sorted out their next step, but there are plenty more free agents that will be up for grabs. Here, talkSPORT.com has compiled an XI made up of the best imminent freebies in a 5-3-2 formation, who can save teams millions in transfer fees. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s retirement lasted less than two months after he joined Barcelona on a free transfer in October 2024 to provide cover for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The 35-year-old proved to be an instant hit with the Blaugrana faithful, featuring in 30 games in all competitions, as he helped Barca win the LaLiga title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. While Hansi Flick’s side are believed to be keen to extend the former Arsenal man’s stay, no agreement has yet been finalised. Szczesny starred for Barcelona, but his stay looks set to be over barring a late agreementGetty Defence Slotting in as the right wing-back in the talkSPORT line-up is Portugal international Nelson Semedo. The two-time Nations League winner has been a key player for Wolves since arriving from Barcelona – appearing in 182 games – with 34 of his outings coming in the Premier League in the 2024/25 term. Slotting in on the opposite side of defence is Kyle Walker-Peters, with the 28-year-old set for a new chapter away from Southampton. Capable of playing in both full-back positions, the two-cap England star is on Tottenham Hotspur‘s radar ahead of a potential return – five years after departing. Victor Lindelof then features in the heart of defence after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United. The Swede, who enjoyed eight years at Old Trafford, is still far more than capable of doing a job at a top side, despite being limited to just 16 top-flight outings in the recent campaign. Walker-Peters has missed just eight league games in the last two seasonsGetty Lindelof played in at least 25 matches in all competitions in each of his eight seasons at Old TraffordGetty Michael Keane is also on the lookout for a new club after eight years at Everton. Now 32, the former Burnley man would be an astute piece of business for a newly-promoted side or a recently relegated team looking to bounce back. The final defender is Olivier Boscagli, who has been one of the top centre-backs in the Netherlands in the last six seasons. He has helped PSV to two Eredivisie titles and boasts plenty of Champions League experience. It remains to be seen whether Brighton rekindle their interest having reportedly had an £8m bid rejected for him last summer. Midfielders One of the most high-profile free agents this summer is Thomas Partey, who failed to agree terms to extend his stay at Arsenal. Boscagli has tested himself against some of Europe’s best teams in recent yearsGetty Arsenal had been keen not to lose the Ghanaian having allowed Jorginho to join Flamengo on a free. But Partey is the latest star to leave, with talkSPORT understanding he has held talks with Barcelona, while he also has suitors in Saudi Arabia. Joining Partey on the free agent list is Euro 2020 champion Marco Verratti, whose time in Qatar at Al Arabi is over. Once one of the most sought-after midfielders during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, the 32-year-old Italian may look to try his luck in Europe once more. And having enjoyed his most productive seasons of his career to date with five goals, he remains in peak condition. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa joins Partey and Verratti in midfield having won his second Serie A title with Napoli in three years. Anguissa is a Napoli icon since joining on an initial loan deal in 2021Getty Arriving from Fulham on an initial loan deal in 2021, he has scored 11 goals in 153 matches – missing just nine league matches in the last three campaigns. And the 2024/25 season proved to the 29-year-old’s most productive
As clubs around the globe prepare to splash the cash on new signings – teams not looking to break the bank can land some big names for nothing.
A host of high-profile players will become available as freebies on July 1 when their contracts expire.
It’s already been a hectic summer window, with Premier League champions Liverpool forking out £216million on six new stars.
That includes breaking the top-flight record on a single player after bringing in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a package deal worth £116.5million.
Manchester City meanwhile have forked out £116m on four new players, with Chelsea set to take their spree to £122m.
And Manchester United will also be breaking the £120m mark should they strike an agreement with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo having already purchased Matheus Cunha for £62.5m.
But clubs across the globe don’t have to open their purse strings to nab a truly quality player.
Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Angel Gomes may have already sorted out their next step, but there are plenty more free agents that will be up for grabs.
Here, talkSPORT.com has compiled an XI made up of the best imminent freebies in a 5-3-2 formation, who can save teams millions in transfer fees.
Goalkeeper
Wojciech Szczesny’s retirement lasted less than two months after he joined Barcelona on a free transfer in October 2024 to provide cover for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The 35-year-old proved to be an instant hit with the Blaugrana faithful, featuring in 30 games in all competitions, as he helped Barca win the LaLiga title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
While Hansi Flick’s side are believed to be keen to extend the former Arsenal man’s stay, no agreement has yet been finalised.
Defence
Slotting in as the right wing-back in the talkSPORT line-up is Portugal international Nelson Semedo.
The two-time Nations League winner has been a key player for Wolves since arriving from Barcelona – appearing in 182 games – with 34 of his outings coming in the Premier League in the 2024/25 term.
Slotting in on the opposite side of defence is Kyle Walker-Peters, with the 28-year-old set for a new chapter away from Southampton.
Capable of playing in both full-back positions, the two-cap England star is on Tottenham Hotspur‘s radar ahead of a potential return – five years after departing.
Victor Lindelof then features in the heart of defence after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United.
The Swede, who enjoyed eight years at Old Trafford, is still far more than capable of doing a job at a top side, despite being limited to just 16 top-flight outings in the recent campaign.
Michael Keane is also on the lookout for a new club after eight years at Everton.
Now 32, the former Burnley man would be an astute piece of business for a newly-promoted side or a recently relegated team looking to bounce back.
The final defender is Olivier Boscagli, who has been one of the top centre-backs in the Netherlands in the last six seasons.
He has helped PSV to two Eredivisie titles and boasts plenty of Champions League experience.
It remains to be seen whether Brighton rekindle their interest having reportedly had an £8m bid rejected for him last summer.
Midfielders
One of the most high-profile free agents this summer is Thomas Partey, who failed to agree terms to extend his stay at Arsenal.
Arsenal had been keen not to lose the Ghanaian having allowed Jorginho to join Flamengo on a free.
But Partey is the latest star to leave, with talkSPORT understanding he has held talks with Barcelona, while he also has suitors in Saudi Arabia.
Joining Partey on the free agent list is Euro 2020 champion Marco Verratti, whose time in Qatar at Al Arabi is over.
Once one of the most sought-after midfielders during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, the 32-year-old Italian may look to try his luck in Europe once more.
And having enjoyed his most productive seasons of his career to date with five goals, he remains in peak condition.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa joins Partey and Verratti in midfield having won his second Serie A title with Napoli in three years.
Arriving from Fulham on an initial loan deal in 2021, he has scored 11 goals in 153 matches – missing just nine league matches in the last three campaigns.
And the 2024/25 season proved to the 29-year-old’s most productive after chipping in with six goals and five assists.
Forwards
Like Keane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is looking for a new home away from Everton after deciding to run his deal down in Merseyside.
Having been on the Toffees’ books since 2016, the 28-year-old has had his fair share of injuries as he looks to finally put his repeated niggles behind him.
Yet to hit double digits in a single season since firing in 21 times in the 2020/21 campaign, Calvert-Lewin is well worth a gamble from teams across Europe.
But his partner in the free agent XI could represent the best-value signing of the summer with Jonathan David a proven goal machine.
The Canadian, who helped the French side win the Ligue 1 title in 2021, enjoyed his most productive campaign to date having chipped in with 37 goal contributions from 49 appearances.
He departs Lille as their second all-time top scorer with 109 strikes in 232 games – three off Andre Strappe’s record haul.
The 25-year-old has scored at least 25 times in each of the last three years, and seems destined to join a top club this summer.
talkSPORT understands Barcelona and Inter Milan are admirers of the striker, who has also been linked with moves to Juventus and the Premier League.
