Free agents and end-of-contract signings are still the most reliable way to plug gaps in EA FC 26 Career Mode without burning your budget. Injuries, sales, and tight finances happen; smart managers use the free market to keep the squad competitive. One wrinkle this year: contract behavior and AI aggressiveness have been tuned, which means fewer elite players drift to free agency and you’ll need to move earlier and negotiate sharper.

How to sign contract expiry players and free agents

  • Scout contract status early in season one and shortlist targets who have 0–1 years remaining.
  • In January, use “Approach to sign” on players in the last six months to agree a pre-contract; they arrive in the summer on a free.
  • Monitor the Free Agents list from day one of a new season. Filter by position and age to uncover immediate depth options.
  • Expect wage competition for top names. Incentives (appearance, clean sheet/goal bonuses) and a signing bonus can tip tight negotiations.

Tip: For older stars or stopgaps, consider one-year deals with a club option. You cap risk and keep flexibility if form drops.

Best free agents you can sign immediately (season one)

Season one’s pool is thinner, but there are still dependable starters and rotation pieces across the back line and midfield.

Player Pos OVR Profile
Hakim Ziyech RM 78 Creative wide outlet, set pieces
Takehiro Tomiyasu RB 78 Disciplined, two-flank coverage
Christian Eriksen CM 76 Passing control, mid-table builds
Oriol Romeu CM 76 Defensive screen for young back four
Victor Lindelöf CB 75 Aerial cover, safe first pass
Mattia De Sciglio RB 75 Rotation full-back, experienced
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain CM 75 Box-to-box energy off bench
Dele Alli CM 71 Gamble: late runs into box
Patrick Bamford ST 71 Pressing forward, links play
Jamal Lewis LB 68 Athletic left-back depth

Why it matters: Even if your starters are settled, these deals protect you against fixture congestion and injuries, especially in saves with limited wage structures.

Contract expiry stars to target for season two (join summer 2026)

The second window is where the real value sits. Start the January shortlist early; you’ll be competing with Europe’s elite on wages and squad role promises.

Elite core

  • Robert Lewandowski (ST, 88) — elite finishing for title pushes; negotiate workload if managing an intense press.
  • Frenkie de Jong (CDM/CM, 87) — transforms build-up and ball progression.
  • Mike Maignan (GK, 87) — long-term No.1 with top reflexes and positioning.

Back line upgrades

  • Ibrahima Konaté (CB, 86) — aerial dominance and recovery pace for high lines.
  • Antonio Rüdiger (CB, 86) — veteran stopper, immediate defensive lift.
  • Dayot Upamecano (CB, 85) — physical presence; pair with a calmer distributor.
  • Andrew Robertson (LB, 82) — final ball and engine on the left.
  • Marc Guéhi (CB, 82) — prime-age starter, resale-friendly.
  • John Stones (CB, 82) — hybrid defender to step into midfield.
  • Eric García (CB, 79) — depth for possession-focused teams.
  • Harry Maguire (CB, 80) — box defense and set-piece threat for low blocks.

Midfield engines and creators

  • Bernardo Silva (CM/CAM, 84) — press-resistant chance creation between lines.
  • Sergej Milinković-Savić (CM, 84) — aerials, late runs, and set-pieces.
  • Rúben Neves (CDM, 84) — tempo control and long-range passing.
  • Leon Goretzka (CM, 82) — box-to-box power for transitional sides.
  • Rodrigo Bentancur (CM, 80) — ball-winning plus vertical carries.
  • Quinten Timber (CM, 80) — versatile, modern eight with upside.
  • Casemiro (CDM, 80) — experienced shield if your center-backs are green.
  • Yves Bissouma (CDM, 78) — mobility to cover advanced full-backs.
  • Weston McKennie (CM, 78) — utility midfielder, strong work rate.

Wide and forward depth

  • Dušan Vlahović (ST, 82) — target-forward profile for direct systems.
  • Serge Gnabry (RM/LW, 82) — output on either flank, particularly transition-heavy teams.
  • Rico Henry (LB, 76) — pace-first rotation option at left-back.

Note: Several Saudi Pro League contracts also lapse in this window, enabling realistic repatriation of European-prime profiles like Rúben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić.

Shortlists by club profile

Promotion chasers / smaller budgets

  • Season one: Tomiyasu, Romeu, Lindelöf, De Sciglio, Lewis.
  • Season two pre-contracts: McKennie, Bissouma, Eric García, Rico Henry.

European qualification push

  • Season one: Ziyech, Eriksen, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
  • Season two pre-contracts: Guéhi or Stones at CB, Neves or Bentancur in midfield, Gnabry on the wing.

Title contenders

  • Season two pre-contracts: Maignan to raise GK floor, de Jong to control tempo, and one of Konaté/Rüdiger for big-match defense. Add Lewandowski or Vlahović if chance conversion is your bottleneck.

Deal hygiene: avoiding the common pitfalls

  • Promise what you can honor. Unfulfilled “Crucial” role promises tank morale and can trigger transfer unrest.
  • Front-load bonuses, not wages. It’s easier to move on a player with a moderate wage if form dips.
  • Mind squad balance. Two new ball-dominant eights can crowd the same zones; offset with a destroyer or a runner.
  • Revisit your shortlist monthly. Post-patch, clubs initiate renewals on their timeline, and available targets can change quickly.

How FC 26’s contract updates change the market

Players won’t open renewal talks on demand, and AI clubs are more assertive at tying down valuable assets in the final six months. You’ll see fewer elite free agents slip through and more bidding wars on expiring stars. Build wider shortlists, act in the first week of January, and be ready with wage structures that fit your board’s expectations.

Season one is about sensible depth; season two is where you can reshape a squad with no-fee starters. Get your scouting in order by autumn, move early in January, and structure contracts to keep your wage bill sustainable. If you time it right, you’ll hit summer 2026 with Champions League-quality signings arriving for free—and a budget left to solve the rest.