Transfer market: Benzema, Mahrez, Zaha… the stunning list of stars still without a club

Several major names in world football remain available for free after Europe’s leading transfer windows closed

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Transfer market: Benzema, Mahrez, Zaha… the stunning list of stars still without a club

With Europe’s major transfer windows now closed, several global stars remain unattached and can still join clubs without a transfer fee.

The summer transfer window has closed across Europe’s five major leagues, yet a remarkable number of established players are still searching for a new project. According to a list published by Foot Mercato on X, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Paul Pogba, Philippe Coutinho, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling were among the players without contracts when it was released.

The list features former European champions, Champions League winners and experienced internationals. Many of them previously played in the Premier League, Serie A or La Liga. Their free-agent status does not make a deal cost-free: clubs avoid a transfer fee, but wages, signing bonuses and agent commissions can still make these operations expensive.

Free agents can still move after deadline day

A free agent can generally sign after the transfer window has closed, provided the relevant league’s registration rules are respected and the club has room in its squad. Competitions whose markets remain open also provide immediate alternatives. The list should therefore be viewed as a snapshot taken at the time of publication, because each player’s situation may change quickly.

The full list of players currently without a club, according to Foot Mercato

Portugal: Raphaël Guerreiro, Diogo Leite, Ricardo Pereira, Sérgio Oliveira, Tozé, Iuri Medeiros, João Mendes, Rafael Brito and Carlos Mané.
Brazil: Philippe Coutinho and Neto.
England: Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Reiss Nelson, Ryan Kent, Jonathan Panzo, Danny Ings, Dele Alli, Conor Coady, Chris Smalling and Brandon Williams.
France: Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Tanguy Ndombélé, M’Baye Niang and Jordan Amavi.
Italy: Stephan El Shaarawy, Francesco Acerbi, Andrea Belotti and Matteo Darmian.
Spain: Dani Carvajal, Joselu, Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Carles Pérez, Pol Lirola, Pedro Rodríguez and Dani Parejo.
Mali: Yves Bissouma and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Ukraine: Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Colombia: James Rodríguez and Juan Cuadrado.
Algeria: Riyad Mahrez, Ismaël Bennacer, Youcef Atal and Adam Ounas.
Croatia: Marcelo Brozović and Ante Rebić.
Belgium: Leander Dendoncker and Adnan Januzaj.
Austria: David Alaba.
Libya: Al-Musrati.
Netherlands: Gini Wijnaldum, Tyrell Malacia and Mitchel Bakker.
Burkina Faso: Bertrand Traoré.
Argentina: Mauro Icardi and Luciano Vietto.
Ivory Coast: Wilfried Zaha, Ghislain Konan and Yann Karamoh.
Switzerland: Ricardo Rodríguez.
Cameroon: Olivier Ntcham, Karl Toko-Ekambi and Jean Onana.
Syria: Mahmoud Dahoud.
Curaçao: Riechedly Bazoer.
Morocco: Romain Saïss.
Egypt: Mohamed Elneny and Ahmed Hassan.
Albania: Elseid Hysaj.
DR Congo: Cédric Bakambu.
Serbia: Nemanja Radonjić.
Denmark: Jannik Vestergaard and Pione Sisto.
Comoros: Myziane Maolida.
Nigeria: Isaac Success and Tyronne Ebuehi.
Angola: Bastos.