A number of top footballers have officially become free agents after their contracts expired on July 1. Alley Sport brings you the list of the Free Agents in Summer 2021 & their possible destinations.
Free agents available from July 1 including Lionel Messi
Some of Europe’s greats are into the final year of their contracts and there are some huge names who could leave for this next summer. The likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos are now out of contract and available on a free transfer. PSG have swooped in for Ramos on the right time and agreed a contract with him.
Several other top stars have already completed their free transfers this summer, with David Alaba swapping Bayern Munich for Real Madrid, Georginio Wijnaldum leaving Liverpool for Paris Saint-Germain, Sergio Aguero joining Barcelona from Manchester City, Memphis Depay swapping Lyon for Barcelona and Hakan Calhanoglu switching from AC Milan to Inter Milan.With many clubs still reeling from the financial effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it is expected that there will be a lot more free transfers this summer.
Lionel Messi | FW | Barcelona
Lionel Messi stirred up quite a fuss when he told his club that he wanted to leave in August, amid a period of intense difficulty for the Camp Nou team. The Blaugrana failed to pick up a single title in 2019-20 and had suffered repeated humiliation in the Champions League, his relationship with club president Josep Bartomeu also deteriorating.
He had looked set to leave in the summer with his contract expired yesterday, but the Argentina talisman revealed in an exclusive interview to Goal that he remains intent on seeing out the full terms of his contract as he had no wish to take Barcelona to court.
The forward turns 34 this summer, but his age will not sway the minds of Europe’s elite – with Messi already having been linked to the likes of Man City and PSG.
Gianluigi Donnarumma | GK | AC Milan
AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma became the second-youngest goalkeeper ever to debut in Serie A, aged 16 years and 242 days. He immediately broke into the first-team and has emerged as one of the world’s most promising young goalkeepers – also becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear for Italy when he made his senior international debut in 2016, aged 17 years and 189 days.
Donnarumma wore the armband for the first time in July 2020 against Sassuolo in Serie A, and according to Football Italia, he is currently negotiating the terms of a move to PSG.
Juan Mata | MF | Man Utd
When Manchester United submitted their retained list last month, they stated that they were in discussions with Mata over a new contract.
He has outlined his determination to remain in Manchester for more years: “When you play your first game you feel like you are in a new beginning, a very exciting moment in your life playing for this club. I don’t want to stop here, I want to keep going and going, and keep adding games in a United shirt.”
Jerome Boateng | DF | FC Bayern
Following a decade at Bayern Munich which saw him win nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues, it was confirmed in April that Boateng would not be offered a new deal.
At the age of 32, Boateng has been linked with Tottenham, Roma and AS Monaco and in a recent interview with Kicker he outlined his ambition to “play at the top level for another two or three years”.
David Luiz | DF | Arsenal
After an eventful two years at Arsenal, Luiz has departed the Emirates and he has been linked with former clubs PSG and Benfica.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to the 34-year-old, saying: “I had the privilege to work with him for 18 months, which I really enjoyed.
“We got on really well, we had some great moments together, he has been really helpful, someone that we really like and appreciate so much, so I just say thank you to him and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”
Ryan Bertrand | CB | Southampton
Following seven years at Southampton, it was confirmed back in May that Bertrand would be leaving the club at the end of the season and he is now officially a free agent.
The 31-year-old left-back, who has been capped 19 times by England, has made his move to Leicester City.
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Paulinho | CM | Guangzhou Evergrande
The former Barcelona and Tottenham midfielder is now available on a free after his contract with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande expired.
Paulinho decided against signing an extension and reports from Spain claim that Atletico Madrid are interested in his services.
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