Transfers are perhaps the most interesting things for football fans to look forward to in the off-season. While clubs have already started making their first offers to their target players, many have also approached free agents who can offer their expertise, albeit without a transfer fee.
Many clubs look to sign players who have just come to the end of their contracts as it allows them to expand only on their wages.
In this piece, we take a look at the top ten footballers who will be out of their contracts in the summer of 2025 and eventually become free agents:
10. Neymar
Neymar, who is known more for being injured these days than for his exploits on the pitch, comes to the end of his short-term contract with Santos this summer. He joined the club after his contract with Al Hilal was terminated.
Que Deus nos abençoe e nos proteja 🙏🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/pbcgrahrvG
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) May 22, 2025
In the 11 matches he has played so far, he has scored three goals and bagged as many assists. The Brazilian club want to make the most of his presence till the time he is there, while Neymar himself is eyeing a return to Europe. It remains to be seen which club will take the risk of signing him, given his lengthy injury history.
9. Marco Verratti
Marco Verrratti is another big name on this list, and one who will fetch good wages at whichever club he chooses to go next. The former Paris Saint-Germain player spent the last two seasons with mid-table Qatari club Al Arabi, and perhaps the time has come to move to another club in the same league when his contract expires this season.
Verratti is one of the best central midfielders produced by Italy, and was a part of the victorious European Championships-winning side in 2020. At PSG, he won nine Ligue 1 titles, but at 32, a return to Europe may seem challenging.
8. Ola Aina
Even though Nottingham Forest missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season, their right-back Ola Aina made a lot of headlines for his stellar performances throughout the campaign.
Aina was a vital player for manager Nuno Espirito Santo this season, and Forest will go all out to secure an extension for him. However, fellow Premier League club Chelsea are keen on getting Aina back to Stamford Bridge.
🎖️ Félicitations à Ola Aina 🇳🇬, Rayan Ait Nouri 🇩🇿 et Mohamed Salah 🇪🇬 qui font parti de la « 𝙁𝘼𝙉 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 » 𝙘𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚́𝙚 en Premier League. 🏴💎 pic.twitter.com/1B2unHuNY8
— Joueurs Africains (@FootAfricain_) May 23, 2025
He plied his trade in London from 2014 to 2017 and is a product of their academy. The Nigerian, who has also played for England at youth level, may choose to go to Chelsea in search of Champions League football.
7. Thomas Partey
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, who played a vital role alongside Declan Rice after moving from Atletico Madrid in 2020, finds himself out of a club this summer. Partey played 52 matches for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, scoring four times and bagging two assists.
Are you happy with Thomas Partey extending his stay at Arsenal? ⏳🐙 pic.twitter.com/9NyWlfYHmJ
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) May 27, 2025
The Ghanaian is among the best in the world when it comes to box-to-box midfielders, and his wide interceptions and defensive actions mark him out from his competitors. Any club that signs the 31-year-old next will feel blessed.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo comes to the end of his existing contract with Al-Nassr this summer, and he reportedly wants the club to fire the manager and almost half the players. Despite scoring a whopping 34 goals in 40 matches across all competitions this season, the Portuguese Magnifico could not lead his team to the Saudi Pro League title.
This chapter is over.
The story? Still being written.
Grateful to all. pic.twitter.com/Vuvl5siEB3— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) May 26, 2025
With one game remaining, his club is expected to finish in third position in the standings, with Al-Ittihad deemed the winners. Ronaldo may choose to move elsewhere at the end of his contract, having won just one trophy with Al-Nassr, the Arab Club Champions Cup.
5. Lionel Messi
The legendary Lionel Messi comes to the end of his contract with Inter Miami this year, but is expected to continue at the club. Messi has been instrumental in putting Miami on the global football map and will also play a vital role in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The IFFHS has named Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time 🐐⚽️ pic.twitter.com/2kb1NNNo78
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 18, 2025
In the current season, Messi has scored 11 goals and assisted twice in 18 matches across all competitions, despite his club not performing as well as usual in the MLS. Miami have hardly been consistent this season, and Messi will want to turn things around.
4. Leroy Sané
Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane is another top player who finds his name on this list. The former Manchester City star is unlikely to have his contract renewed at the Allianz Arena, and this could lead him to seek new clubs. Sane, whose flourishing runs down the left flank won him plaudits from the Bayern fans. However, he only scored 13 goals and delivered five assists across all competitions this season. Sané may be a good fit if he chooses to return to England. In total, Sane scored 61 goals in 221 appearances for Bayern.
3. Jonathan David
Jonathan David is among the most exciting young players on this list, and one whom many top clubs across the world will target. The Lille centre-forward comes to the end of his ongoing contract this summer, and has attracted the attention of several big teams on the continent. The 25-year-old has scored 25 goals and bagged 12 assist this season, and looks to be primed for a good run of form in the Premier League, if either of Manchester United or City make the move.
2. Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City bade goodbye to their club legend Kevin De Bruyne a few weeks ago, with the Belgian not extending his stay at the Etihad. The central attacking midfielder, who is among the classiest in the world when it comes to distribution, passing and goalscoring, will be on the lookout for new options in the summer, presumably in Saudi Arabia or at Italian side Napoli. He scored six goals and delivered eight assists this season across all competitions.
1. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the biggest name on this list. Earlier this year, he made the emotional decision not to renew his contract with Liverpool and instead become a free agent.
Trent Alexander-Arnold said one final goodbye to Liverpool fans 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/OZXb1X7NLl
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 27, 2025
There have been a lot of talks of Real Madrid being interested in him, with his friend Jude Bellingham playing a vital role in the talks. England’s best right-back will create headlines wherever he ends up, as was seen with the four goals and seven assists he bagged for Liverpool in 2024-25 and helped them become Premier League champions.
