Monday’s transfer deadline day saw the likes of Jamie Vardy and Victor Lindelof join new clubs for free, but arguably the biggest free transfer this summer in Europe saw prolific scorer Jonathan David join Juventus from Lille.
The Canadian striker’s agent Nick Mavromaras explained to BBC Sport that several clubs across Europe were vying for his client’s signature.
“It was an exciting but also a nervous time,” he said. “Indirectly, you have conversations with clubs all the time. Offers no, not before six months.
“We had aggressive wage expectations. I think some clubs found them extremely excessive, especially in the Premier League, but in the end we found exactly what we wanted with Juventus.”
Despite making it clear he would not sign a new contract, David left Lille on relatively good terms. The same can’t be said for his team-mate Angel Gomes, who was omitted from the team after making it clear he wouldn’t be renewing his deal, while David kept his place in the team which competed in last year’s Champions League.
Of course a player becoming a free agent isn’t without its woes.
There’s the disgruntled club chairman who may have dreamed of what could have been done with any transfer fee; the team’s manager who’s now potentially without a key player.
And of course the supporters, who no doubt waited with bated breath at each stage of the contract renewal talks which eventually resulted in no deal being struck.
The player appears to be the real winner in such a situation but as football agent Liam Bowes told BBC Sport, it’s never as straightforward as it appears.
“The minute said player makes a decision not to renew, it’s a calculated risk – they are gambling with their career. And the bigger the talent the bigger the gamble.
“Everything could change, let’s say the new club comes under new ownership or management, maybe you’re suddenly not part of their plans. Maybe they don’t qualify for a competition and their budget changes. All those things play a part.”
Liverpool signed striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on deadline day for a British record transfer fee of £125m, after a saga that dragged on all summer.
The element of surprise very rarely plays a part in modern football transfers, a pity says agent Sky Andrew, who brokered the last free-agent deal that shook the foundations of the football world when Sol Campbell moved from Tottenham to Arsenal in 2001.
“I said to him that you honour your contract,” Andrew said. “Then you can look if someone offers you something that is better than what you’ve already got.”
Former England captain Campbell’s switch between Spurs and the Gunners is still considered one of the most sensational transfers in Premier League history.
What added to the drama was only a handful of people knew about the deal until a news conference was called.
Speaking 24 years on from that infamous saga, Andrew told BBC Sport he’s surprised that players who honour their contracts are still sometimes considered the villains in the situation.
“It’s hypocritical for anybody to criticise a player that honours the contract because the player’s got a job to do, play football,” said Andrew.
“Footballers are often just pawns in a very big game of chess. You’ve got agents, managers, directors all deciding on the players’ fate and players very seldom have control of their destiny.
“If a player honours their contract they get criticised. If they want to leave a contract early they get criticised. The narrative has to change,” Andrew said.
As for any fans still on free agent watch, Dele Alli has left Serie A club Como after his contract was terminated, while the likes of former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen and Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League-winning captain Cesar Azpilicueta are still without a club.
Admittedly they aren’t names likely to shake the foundations of the football summer transfer window – but maybe that will come next summer.
Free agents in 2026 include Manchester City duo Bernardo Silva and John Stones, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, two players in the final year of their contracts to keep an eye out for are Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, after his deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed.
Both names have been linked with… who else? Real Madrid.
Few would be surprised if either of them followed in Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps and ended up the Spanish capital.
