Benzema and Sancho among top 10 free agents on European transfer deadline day
Several prominent players, including Karim Benzema and Jadon Sancho, featured among the top 10 free agents available on European transfer deadline day on Tuesday, September 1. Clubs across Europe were still completing high-value deals while these unattached players remained eligible to sign after the window closed.
With the transfer window set to shut at midnight in most major leagues, teams were racing to finalise complex permanent and loan moves and several players found their futures undecided. The article noted that free agents can still join clubs after the midnight cutoff and that this year’s pool includes players with domestic and continental titles and a large number of international caps.
Oleksandr Zinchenko became a free agent after dropping down the pecking order at Arsenal and a short, injury-affected spell with Ajax, where he made just two appearances for De Godenzonen. The 29-year-old is not strongly linked with any club in the piece, which suggested he could fit EFL Championship sides. Wilfried Zaha left Galatasaray as his contract expired after a loan at Charlotte FC in which he scored 13 goals and registered 14 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. Zaha has been training with Crystal Palace, an emotional return to the Eagles was ruled out, and the article reported late-window interest from clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. Tottenham Hotspur confirmed Yves Bissouma’s departure at the end of his contract; the 29-year-old Mali international was described as a capable passer and was linked to Juventus, Ajax and Trabzonspor, with Juventus noted as having failed to sign Franck Kessié.
Raheem Sterling left Chelsea by mutual termination following a short spell with Feyenoord and is a free agent at 31. The piece recorded recent reports that Sterling crashed his Lamborghini and was found in possession of nitrous oxide, and it said links with West Bromwich Albion had cooled. Paul Pogba’s brief return to football with AS Monaco after a doping-related ban was short-lived and he was released by the Ligue 1 club; the article said the 33-year-old former FIFA World Cup winner had not attracted interest from major clubs. It added that rumours of a move to Brazil had died down and that West Ham United had not acted on reported interest.
Dani Carvajal left Real Madrid after 23 years with the club, 27 senior trophies and a joint-record six European Cups and has been training with Joselu at the Spanish Football Federation’s facilities in Las Rozas. The 34-year-old has been linked, in unverified reports, to clubs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Madridista Hoy reported Leganés regard him as a priority target. David Alaba also departed the Santiago Bernabéu after five years and 11 trophies; the article said his time in Madrid was hampered by injuries and described him as an elite defender when fit. Alaba, 34, is currently in Germany considering his next move and, according to the piece, nothing concrete has materialised.
Riyad Mahrez became a free agent in July after his tenure with Al Ahli and, at 35, the article credited him with helping the Jeddah-based club win back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles; it added that AS Roma had shown interest while Al Shabab and Al Ittihad remained in touch. Karim Benzema had his contract with Al Hilal mutually terminated and, at 38, was reported by Arab media to be considering retirement, with Al Ittihad reportedly pushing to convince him to sign. Jadon Sancho entered deadline day as a 26-year-old free agent after his Manchester United contract expired; the piece said his market value had dropped following underwhelming loan spells at Chelsea and Aston Villa and that Borussia Dortmund were among the leading suitors, reportedly considering a heavily performance-based deal.
The transfer window closes at midnight on Tuesday, September 1 in most major leagues, but the article reiterated that free agents remain able to sign for clubs after that cutoff, leaving these players able to complete moves despite the deadline.