EA FC 25 Career Mode: Best free agents & contract expiry players

Ryan Lemay
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As players prepare to manage clubs in EA FC 25 Career Mode, it’s never too early to plan which free agents and expiring contracts to target.

Before a player’s contract expires in FC 25, Career mode users can sign them on a free transfer during the final year of their contract. This means that the club won’t have to pay a transfer fee to acquire the player, But, team managers will have to work out a contract.

Taking advantage of signing players on expiring contracts is a great way to save money and there is plenty of top level talent out there waiting to be swooped up. In addition, there are plenty of footballers available without a club at the moment waiting in the wings for a chance.

Using Transfermarkt records, we compiled a selection of the best players you can sign as free agents or when their current deals expire at the end of the 2024/25 season. This list contains options for every budget.

Best free agents & contract expiry players

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Goalkeepers

  • Wojciech Szczesny: Free agent
  • Sergio Rico: Free agent
  • Keylor Navas: Free agent
  • Rui Patricio: Free agent
  • Guillermo Ochoa: Free agent
  • Andriy Lunin: Contract expiry
  • Walter Benitez: Contract expiry
  • Kepa Arizzabalaga: Contract expiry
  • Alex Meret: Contract expiry
  • Alvaro Valles: Contract expiry

Wojciech Szczesny is coming off a phenomenal season with Juventus and still has plenty of gas left in the tank to make an immediate team for a lot of clubs.

Keylor Navas and Guillermo Ochoa are at the twilights of their careers, and a case could be made that they are already over the hump. However, both players still offer value and should come on relatively cheap contracts.

If you want to make a wise investment for the future, Andriy Lunin is young and currently finds himself stuck as Real Madrid’s backup goalkeeper. It shouldn’t be too hard to sway him away.

Defenders

  • Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB): Contract expiry
  • Mario Hermoso (CB): Free agent
  • Joel Matip (CB): Free agent
  • Mats Hummels (CB): Free agent
  • Alphonso Davies (LB): Contract expiry
  • Lutsharel Geertruida (CB): Contract expiry
  • Jonathan Tah (CB): Contract expiry
  • Virgil Van Dijk (CB): Contract expiry
  • Oliver Boscagli (CB): Contract expiry
  • Tyrick Mitchell (LB): Contract expiry
  • Kurt Zouma (CB): Contract expiry
  • Ferland Mendy (LB): Contract expiry
  • Maxence Lacroix (CB): Contract expiry
  • Kyle Walker-Peters (RB): Contract expiry
  • Harry Maguire (CB): Contract expiry
  • Danilho Doekhi (CB): Contract expiry
  • Chancel Mbemeba (CB): Contract expiry
  • Victor Lindelof (CB): Contract expiry
  • Davide Calabria (RB): Contract expiry
  • Sergio Reguilon (LB): Contract expiry
  • Tariq Lamptey (RB): Contract expiry
  • Eric Dier (CB): Contract expiry
  • Nelson Semedo (RB): Contract expiry
  • Daniel Carvajal (RB): Contract expiry
  • Danilo (RB): Contract expiry
  • Fabian Schar (CB): Contract expiry

There are a few names that immediately jump off the page here. Trent Alexander-Arnold is arguably one of the best right backs in the world at his best and the same can be said about Alphonso Davies at left back.

Both players will most likely only go to big clubs, but there are plenty of good budget options here as well. Daniel Carvajal was one of the best players for Spain at the Euros and the experienced right back still can dominate.

In addition, Tyrick Mitchell, Tariq Lamptey, and Davide Calabria are all underrated players who would slot into most top European sides.

Midfielders

  • Joshua Kimmich (CM): Contract expiry
  • Kevin De Bruyne (CM): Contract expiry
  • Scott McTominay (CM): Contract expiry
  • Weston McKennie (CM): Contract expiry
  • Adrien Rabiot (CM): Free agent
  • Andres Gomes (CM): Free agent
  • Yusuf Yazici (CAM): Free agent
  • Dele Alli (CAM): Free agent
  • James Rodriguez (CAM): Free agen
  • Frank Anguissa (CM): Contract expiry
  • Angel Gomes (CM): Contract expiry
  • Sean Longstaff (CM): Contract expiry
  • Rayan Cherki (CAM): Contract expiry
  • Denzel Dumfries (RM): Contract expiry
  • Sofyan Amrabat (CDM): Contract expiry
  • Thomas Partey (CDM): Contract expiry
  • Christian Norgaard (CDM): Contract expiry
  • Marco Veratti (CM): Contract expiry
  • Giovani Lo Celso (CM): Contract expiry
  • Jorginho (CM): Contract expiry
  • Koke (CM): Contract expiry
  • Christian Eriksen (CM): Contract expiry

If you need a midfielder there is no shortage of options out there. All eyes go to Kevin De Brune and Joshua Kimmich at the top of the list, but there are plenty of serviceable players who deserve recognition as well.

James Rodriguez made a case for being the best player during the Copa America tournament and currently doesn’t have a club. In the same vein, Adrien Rabiot played a pivotal role for France at the Euros and still needs a contract somewhere.

Looking ahead, Rayan Cherki, Scott McTominay, and Weston McKennie are all great central players that can be signed on a free.

Attackers

  • Leroy Sane (RW): Contract expiry
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (ST): Contract expiry
  • Anthony Martial (ST): Free agent
  • Memphis Depay (ST): Free agent
  • Wissam Ben Yedder (ST): Free agent
  • Mohamed Salah (RW): Contract expiry
  • Ivan Toney (ST): Contract expiry
  • Jonathan David (ST): Contract expiry
  • Heung-min Son (LW): Contract expiry
  • Federico Chiesa (LW): Contract expiry
  • Lionel Messi (RW): Contract expiry
  • Neymar (LW): Contract expiry
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ST): Contract expiry
  • Paulo Dybala (ST): Contract expiry
  • Amad Diallo (RW): Contract expiry
  • Odsonne Edouard (ST): Contract expiry
  • Cucho Hernandez (ST): Contract expiry
  • Daniel Podence (RW): Contract expiry
  • Roony Bardghji (RW): Contract expiry

It’s highly unlikely that many clubs will have the finances to afford their wages, but Neymar, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, and Cristiano Ronaldo are all on expiring deals.

If we were to be more realistic with which clubs more Career mode players will be in control of, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Martial, and Jonathan David are all exciting players that could use a change of scenery.

Since Juventus has frozen out star winger Federico Chiesa in the final year of his contract, it should be easy for a club to come in and give the forgotten player a new home.

For more on FC 25 Career mode, check out our list of every removed formation.

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