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

❘ Published: 2024-08-22T21:37:12

EA Sports

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

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.