Best XI of Free agents currently available 

EUs
Ustari, albeit a great goalkeeper, has been struggling with serious injuries throughout his career

The 2018/2019 season has started for the greatest European leagues and the transfer windows have been shut down. Every roster seems to have been already completed. However, is there are to be some last-minute additions, a wide range of great players is currently available as their contracts with their former teams were not renewed.

This list features the best line-up of currently available free agents who have yet to find the next station of their career. Veterans of the game, some of them with an enormous collection of titles, they wait patiently for the right offer to arrive. Many clubs worldwide can surely be benefited from their long-way, vast experience.

After the Best XI of players whose contracts expire in 2019, here comes the best line-up of free agents who can right away sign for any club:


Goalkeeper: Oscar Ustari

The Argentinian goalkeeper was last seen wearing the colours of the Mexican Club Atlas. On July 10, the two parts took separate ways after a successful two-year partnership and the 32-years-old is currently searching for his next adventure. He has made two appearances with Argentina National team and was a regular member of Argentina's U17 and U20 Youth teams.

In his career so far, Ustari has featured for Independiente, Sunderland, and Getafe, among others, and it is certain that it will not be long until he finds his next club. In fact, in the summer he was being considered among the candidates for the replacement of Claudio Bravo in Manchester City.

It should be mentioned that Ustari has been struggling with various and serious injuries so far in his career. His most recent one, a horrific injury to his left knee on November 2017, took him out-of-action for around 300 days.

Right Back: Glen Johnson

Stoke City v West Ham United - Premier League
Johnson was released by Stoke City after he failed to trigger his contract renewal clause

The 34-years-old defender is a player with a great experience of top-level football. He started his career at West Ham before moving to Chelsea where he won the Premier League and the Carabo Cup in the 2004/2005 season. He reached his peak during his times at Liverpool where he made 200 appearances during the 6 years he remained at Anfield.

His last stop was Stoke City and he was released on July after he failed to trigger his contract renewal clause. He was handed free transfer after the club was relegated and could not afford anymore his £60,000 per-week contract.

With over 350 games in the Premier League, Johnson can be a decent addition for any club looking to add experience to their roster.

Left Back: Patrice Evra

Swansea City v West Ham United - Premier League
Evra is considered as one of the best left-backs to ever play in England

Tons of experience personified! In spite of being 37 years old, the French warhorse has not announced his retirement yet. After a more than successful stint as a Manchester United player where he won 5 Premier League titles, 3 Football League Cups and 1 Champions League, to mention only but a few, he joined Juventus and helped the Bianconeri reached the domestic double in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons.

His next adventure was Marseille but it ended prematurely. On 3 November 2017, he was suspended from playing indefinitely by the French club after he had kicked a fan on the head, a day earlier. UEFA also issued to him a season-ban from European competitions. As a result, he was released by the club immediately after.

Evra remained clubless until February when West Ham announced his signing with a one-year contract. He left the club after his contract expired, having been featured in 5 games for the Hammers. He has yet to find a new destination in his career although he is not keen on hanging up his boots. A player with a tremendous high-class experience and a title-winning attitude, Evra is waiting for the next chapter of his career to commence.

Centre Back: Robert Huth

Peterborough United v Leicester City - The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Huth left Leicester City on July after a successful 3-years stay at the club

Huth was an integral part of Leicester Citys's squad during their outstanding 2015-2016 season where they were crowned kings of the Premier League. In fact, the German towering defender had previously won the Premier League title another 2 times with Chelsea.

The 34-years-old was sidelined in the biggest part of the 2017-2018 season due to injury and he eventually left the club on July. Huth is reported to be on the target list of several clubs of the Championship, including Aston Villa and Stoke City.

Centre Back: John Terry

Aston Villa v Fulham - Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final
Terry is currently weighing up his options after he rejected a move to Spartak Moscow

The Chelsea legend remains untied with any club after he rejected the last offer from Spartak Moscow. The 37-years-old defender with a spectacular title collection with the Blues last played for Aston Villa featuring in 36 games during the 2017-2018 season.

He decided to leave in July and he was as one step from joining Spartak but he showed a change of heart at the last minute. Although he has vehemently denied any retirement rumours, it is now reported that he has an offer from Chelsea to work as a coach.

Midfielder: Miguel Veloso

Genoa CFC v Benevento Calcio - Serie A
Veloso during his second stint as a Genoa player

The Portuguese defensively minded midfielder has quite a résumé. He had enjoyed full seasons of football in Sporting Lisbon, Genoa and Dynamo Kyiv before he returned to the Genovese club in 2016 and until his release on July.

Even though he has faced numerous injuries throughout his career, Veloso has been a Portugal International since 2007, earning over 50 caps and appearing to 2 World Cups and 2 European Championships. The 32-years-old has recently attracted interest from a variety of clubs, including the Greek Olympiakos, PAOK, and AEK and Bologna.

Midfielder: Jan Kirchhoff

Swansea City v Sunderland - Premier League
Kirchhoff has been struggling with injuries in his career but, once he is fit, he can provide depth in the midfield area

Being only 27 years old, the German is sure to find a club soon. Kirchhoff has played for Bayern Munich, Mainz, Schalke and contributed a lot to Sunderland's avoidance of relegation in 2016. He was released from the club after being sidelined due to injury for the second part of the 2016-2017 season. In fact, injuries have ravaged many of his seasons so far in his career.

He was then offered a trial to Bolton Wanderers and left the club when his contract expired last June. Supposing he is fit, Kirchhoff can be a valuable addition to the midfield, given his age and his technical qualities.

Left Winger: Samir Nasri

Manchester City v Newcastle United - Premier League
Nasri has last featured for the Turkish Antalyaspor before he was suspended by UEFA on doping allegations

Although his career is on a constant decay, Nasri's vast experience from high-level football can benefit any club. However, the Frenchman is currently under an 18-months ban from UEFA, ending in January 2019 after he ''received an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in breach of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules'' (The Guardian).

Nasri can return to training with any club in November. His last official appearance is dated on 26 November 2017 for the Turkish side Antalyaspor, where he stayed only 5 months until his contract was terminated in January 2018.

Nevertheless, Nasri's rich experience on the Premier League as an Arsenal and Manchester City player can be helpful for any club that will be willing to give him a chance to revive his career.

The recent Nasri reminds nothing of the 2010 French Player of the Year and the comparisons to Zinedine Zidane can no longer be applied. However, his dribbling skills have not deserted him and it remains to be seen if he can come back unharmed, if that can be, from his long-time ban.

Right Winger: Morgan Amalfitano

Aston Villa v West Ham United - Premier League
Amalfitano played for West Ham United in the 2014-2015 Premier League

The French veteran had some very successful seasons with Lorient and Marseille in Ligue 1 before moving to the English Premier League and West Ham. In January 2016, he returned to his home country after signing for Lille. His last station was Stade Rennais and in August the two parties mutually agreed to take separate ways.

He is currently a free agent and his huge experience of high-flight football can be critical for any potential employer.

Striker: Gabriel Agbonlahor

AFC Telford United v Aston Villa: Pre-Season Friendly
As an Aston Villa player, Agbonlahor reached both the peak and the nadir of his career

A once upon a time prolific scorer, Agbonlahor has 86 goals in his career so far. A product of Aston Villa's academies, he stayed at the Villa Park until last June and did not quit when the club was relegated in 2016. During those years, he experienced both his best era (2006-2010) but also his decay in the recent seasons.

Apart from his finishing ability, the 31-years-old has provided over 50 assists throughout his career and was known to be one of the fastest players in the world during his peak times. During the last season, Agbonlahor made only 6 appearances, scoring once, for the club and as a result, he was shown the exit, ending a 17-year partnership.

In his latest interview, Agbonlahor strongly hinted that he would very much like a move to Celtic, which, according to him, is a dream of his. Nevertheless, no negotiations have yet taken place.

Striker: Giuseppe Rossi

Benevento Calcio v Genoa CFC - Serie A
Rossi during his spell at Genoa which ended last June

Rossi has lost nearly one-quarter of his 14-year old career due to heavy injuries. Indeed, his injury history is terrifying. In October 2011, he tore his right knee ACL, playing with Villareal. 3 years later, in January 2014, he sprained the ligaments in his right knee and he was sidelined for four months. He suffered a fourth serious injury in August 2014 which resulted in him missing the whole season. His latest injury occurred in April 2017 during his spell at Celta Vigo.

In July 2017, the Italian striker was set free from Fiorentina and he remained without a club until Genoa signed him in December. A few days later, he suffered another hamstring injury and he was sidelined for almost 50 days. Genoa finally released him in July 2018.

Rossi would have been now one of the greatest strikers had it been not for his consecutive and so serious injuries. He played for Manchester United before moving to Villareal in 2007 where he scored 81 goals until he left in 2013. His latest home was Genoa but he left last July.

Rossi asserted in an interview that he will not retire any soon. The 31-years-old is currently on full-fit and on the transfer list of Bologna.

Substitutes

Goalkeeper

Diego Cavalieri (35 years old, former club: Crystal Palace)

Defenders

Nedum Onuoha (31 years old, former club: QPR)

Philipp Wollscheid (29 years old, former club: Metz)

Diego Polenta (26 years old, former club: Nacional)

Midfielders

Stephen Ireland (32 years old, former club: Stoke City)

Alberto Aquilani (34 years old, former club: Las Palmas)

Mathieu Flamini (34 years old, former club: Getafe)

Forwards

Nilmar (34 years old, former club: Santos)

Antonio Cassano (36 years old, former club: Hellas Verona)

Bakary Sako (30 years old, former club: Crystal Palace)

Isaac Cuenca (27 years old, former club: Hapoel Be'er Sheva)

Quick Links

Edited by Vikshith R
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications