As the summer transfer window starts to come to life, some big names will shortly become free agents.
From 1 July, a number of football's top players, in the Premier League and across the world, will be out of contract, as most player deals in football expire on 30 June.
Their availability could attract the attention of Premier League clubs keen to secure a close-season deal.
When players' contracts expire, they can be signed for free, with no transfer fee paid to the player's club required. This has been the case since the "Bosman ruling" was introduced in 1995, when Belgian midfielder Jean Marc-Bosman successfully challenged RFC Liege's demand to receive a fee before permitting him to join another club after his contract had expired.
In the 30 years since then, we've seen some high-profile free transfers such as Sol Campbell swapping Tottenham Hotspur for Arsenal in 2001 and Germany captain Michael Ballack signing for Chelsea in 2006.
Below, we identify 20 players that clubs might be considering a move for this summer, when the transfer window reopens on Monday 16 June. Also, from those 20 free agents, we have selected this XI:
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Cristiano Ronaldo
The 40-year-old superstar continues to break records - and lift silverware, having captained Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory this month.
Ronaldo has defined an era in world football and says he will be determined to add to his 36 team honours and 938 goals for as long as he continues to be motivated. The opportunity to become the first player to officially score 1,000 career goals may be all the motivation the former Manchester United player needs.
Although Ronaldo has hinted at extending his stay with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, no announcement has been made yet about a new contract.
Jonathan David
It's no secret that a number of clubs are searching for a striker this summer, and David has been linked with many of them including Man Utd, Newcastle United and West Ham United.
The 25-year-old Canada international lit up France's Ligue 1 with Lille last season, scoring 16 goals and producing five assists in 32 appearances. His seven UEFA Champions League goals in 2024/25 also drew many admirers from across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
In total, he has netted 109 goals in 232 games at club level since joining Lille in the summer of 2020. His contract expires on 30 June.
Olivier Boscagli
The classy 27-year-old French defender is said to be on Brighton & Hove Albion's radar.
As a ball-playing centre-back, Boscagli has impressive passing stats, playing 12.75 progressive passes per match last season for PSV Eindhoven.
Jamie Vardy
The player who wrote one of football's most remarkable stories is looking to add one final chapter.
Vardy's rise from the Northern Premier League to Premier League champion with underdogs Leicester City won't ever be forgotten. He has left the Foxes as a 200-goal hero, and the 38-year-old striker says his journey is not over yet.
Mario Pasalic
The Croatia midfielder, 30, has been with Atalanta for seven years - initially on loan, then permanently from 2020. His contract expires on 30 June.
The Serie A club are reportedly keen to retain Pasalic, who spent virtually all of his six seasons as a Chelsea player from 2014 out on loan. He did not make a single appearance for the west London club.
Neymar
Neymar's recent emotional return to his boyhood club Santos could be a short one. He agreed a six-month deal in January 2025 after terminating his lucrative contract with Al-Hilal.
The 33-year-old was asked last month to rate the chances of an extension and responded: "From 0 to 10, I would say 7." But the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has previously said playing in the Premier League will always be an ambition.
Mason Holgate
The versatile defender is a free agent, following his departure from Everton after 10 years.
The 28-year-old Jamaica international spent 2024/25 at West Bromwich Albion, in the latest of his various loan spells that have also taken him to Southampton and Sheffield United in recent seasons.
Stefan de Vrij
The experienced Inter centre-back, who plays alongside Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands, has a contract that is due to expire on 30 June 2025.
However, De Vrij is reportedly in talks to extend his stay at the San Siro.
Christian Eriksen
Potential suitors have been alerted since Man Utd announced a new contract has not been offered to the Danish midfielder.
Rangers and Ajax are two of the clubs reported to be keen on the 33-year-old, who won the FA Cup and the EFL Cup during his three years at Old Trafford.
Danny Ings
Although Ings endured a quiet second season at West Ham, making only two starts and 15 substitute appearances in 2024/25, he has the reputation of being a deadly finisher.
Southampton fans certainly witnessed that, as he scored 41 goals in 91 Premier League matches for their club before his move to Aston Villa in 2021.
The 32-year-old's stint at the London Stadium may not have quite gone to plan but the UEFA Europa Conference League winner still has plenty to offer.
Willian
The Brazilian, now 36, has always been an eye-catching player.
The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger left Fulham on a free transfer last summer but, after a few months with Greek club Olympiacos, he returned to Craven Cottage in the January transfer window and made a further 10 Premier League appearances for the club.
Willian was named on Fulham's released list this week.
Ashley Young
He may be turning 40 in July, but Young apparently has no plans to mark his big birthday by retiring.
A Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Europa League winner at Man Utd, Young played 31 times for Everton in 2024/25 and said he feels as fit and fresh as he did during his 20s.
Ben Mee
The 35-year-old defender joined Brentford on a free transfer in July 2022 after 11 years at Burnley.
Mee played 67 times for the Bees in three seasons, scoring five goals, and although he made only two starts in 2024/25, his vast experience will be an attraction.
Lukasz Fabianski
A West Ham stalwart of seven seasons, the 40-year-old Polish goalkeeper is determined to play on.
Set to be forever remembered by supporters for his part in the Hammers' 2022/23 Conference League success, Fabianski made 195 Premier League appearances for the club, keeping 45 clean sheets.
Neal Maupay
Maupay spent two of his three seasons as an Everton player out on loan, firstly to his former club Brentford in 2023/24 and then Marseille in 2024/25, when he scored four goals in Ligue 1.
The 28-year-old forward, who has also played for Brighton in the Premier League, reportedly has suitors in France.
Alex Meret
A number of Premier League teams are said to be on the hunt for a new goalkeeper, and their attention could turn to Napoli's No 1.
Meret's role in Napoli winning two Serie A titles in the last three seasons will put him high on clubs' wish lists in the summer transfer window, but it won't be easy to prise him away. The 28-year-old is said to be in talks over extending his seven-year stay with the Italian champions.
Victor Lindelof
The Sweden captain represented Man Utd for eight years and appeared 194 times in the Premier League.
Although it has been far from the most glorious period in the club's history, the 30-year-old free agent still has FA Cup and EFL Cup success on his CV.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Everton paid a reported £20million to sign Doucoure from Watford in September 2020.
But it proved to be a very decent investment, especially when his goal against AFC Bournemouth helped keep the club in the Premier League on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
The 31-year-old midfielder made 166 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 21 times and producing 14 assists, and will no doubt be an attractive proposition. That said, he was included on Everton's retained list - published this week - as a player who has received an offer to stay at the club.
Sergio Reguilon
The Spanish full-back may have only made 56 appearances for Spurs since joining them in 2020, but loan spells at Atletico Madrid, Man Utd and Brentford in the past few years have given the 28-year-old a wealth of experience at the highest level.
Pablo Sarabia
Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Sarabia is seeking a new club after being named on Wolverhampton Wanderers' released list.
The 33-year-old Spain international made 23 Premier League appearances for Wolves last season, contributing three goals and two assists.
The highlights of his time at Molineux include winning the club's Goal of the Season award twice, in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
