Free agents are the quickest way to plug holes in FM26 when the budget is tight. At game start (early July 2025), the pool skews veteran, but there are still players who can start for top-flight teams, provide reliable rotation minutes, or steady a promotion push. Move fast: some of the best names draw multiple offers in week one, and a couple won’t pass a medical until later in the year.
Top men’s free agents at launch (by role and what to expect)
Attribute values and wages are typical ranges seen at the start of a new save; they can vary by club stature, promises, and add‑ons.
| Player | Age | Primary role | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 26 | RB/CB/LB | Long‑term knee injury at launch; typically fails first-window medical. Revisit mid‑season. Often willing near ~£20k/week; strong resale for a free signing. |
| Sergio Reguilón | 28 | LB/WB (starter) | Top‑division starter quality. Wage demands are steep, commonly £30k–£60k/week. Good resale if kept fit. |
| Renan Lodi | 27 | LB/WB (attacking) | Attacks the flank aggressively; proven pedigree with senior Brazil caps. Fits systems that ask full backs to overlap. |
| Juan Bernat | 32 | LB/WB (creative) | Crossing ~14, dribbling ~15, acceleration/pace ~14; can exceed £50k/week. Low natural fitness (5) means careful rotation. |
| Oriol Romeu | 33 | DM (anchor) | Teamwork and natural fitness at 18, strong work rate and positioning; short‑term stopper who stabilizes the middle third. |
| Fernandinho | 40 | DM (leader) | Physicals mostly ≤10 but elite mentality/technical profile. Expect a bidding war; ideal mentor and late‑game controller. |
| Diego Costa | 36 | ST (target/Plan B) | Pace 9, acceleration 10, stamina 10; thrives as impact sub. Typically signs around £5k–£10k/week. |
| Lorenzo Insigne | 34 | AML/SS (creator) | High impact in limited minutes; stamina ~10 requires managed workloads. Useful for set‑piece routines and chance creation. |
| Rick Karsdorp | 30 | RB/WB (rotation) | Attack‑minded full back who covers two seasons as a dependable squad option. |
| Giacomo Bonaventura | 35 | AMC/CM (creative) | Experienced link player; protects possession and improves final-ball quality for mid‑table sides. |
| Dries Mertens | 38 | AM/SS (finisher) | Short bursts of high quality in the half spaces; tailor minutes to keep him decisive. |
| Salvatore Sirigu | 38 | GK (Champ/League One) | Reliable shot-stopper with strong mentality; wages typically £5k–£10k/week. Excellent one‑year bridge. |
| Fraser Forster | 39 | GK (EFL depth) | Homegrown depth for English clubs; sensible third‑choice, boosts registration quotas. |
| Craig Dawson | 35 | CB (aerial) | Dominant on set pieces; steady option for Championship promotion chases. |
Also worth a look: Hugo Mallo, Léo Dubois, Renan Lodi, Mario Rui, Jason Denayer, Koffi Djidji, Manuel Riemann, Vicente Guaita, Rui Patrício, Patrick Bamford.
Top women’s free agents worth shortlisting
FM26’s women’s database includes several free transfers who step in as starters or high‑end rotation immediately.
| Player | Position | What they add |
|---|---|---|
| Kailen Sheridan | GK | Starter quality for top teams; standout throwing (19), reflexes (17), handling (16), plus strong distribution and jumping reach. |
| Leicy Santos | AMC | Elite technicals for a No.10: free kicks (18), technique (18), passing (17), long shots (16), first touch (16), corners (16). |
| Jesse Fleming | CM/Set pieces | Penalty taking (19), free kicks (17), corners (17) with wages often in the £1k–£3k/week range; dependable and versatile. |
| Delphine Cascarino | RW | Pace and end product on the right; wages commonly £2k–£4k/week. Strong flip‑value if you plan to sell later. |
| Esme Morgan | CB/FB | Euro‑winning pedigree and welcome positional flexibility for squads that need cover centrally and out wide. |
When to move and what to offer (timing, medicals, wages)
- Medicals matter: Takehiro Tomiyasu typically won’t pass in the first window due to a long‑term knee injury. Revisit as he nears fitness mid‑season.
- Budget for premiums at full back: Sergio Reguilón and Juan Bernat are starter‑level but often require £30k–£60k/week packages, sometimes higher with bonuses.
- Use one‑year deals with optional extensions: Veterans such as Fernandinho, Sirigu, Mertens, and Costa deliver value now while limiting long‑term risk.
- Expect competition: Leadership profiles (Fernandinho) and proven creators (Insigne) can spark bidding wars. Move quickly and include realistic playing‑time promises.
- Fit before fame: Renan Lodi thrives in systems that want overlapping width; Romeu anchors more conservative shapes and protects aggressive eights.
Who fits where (by division and role)
- Top flight starters or rotation: Reguilón, Lodi, Tomiyasu (post‑recovery), Bernat (manage minutes), Romeu (anchor), Insigne (impact creator).
- Championship and promotion pushes: Craig Dawson (CB), Patrick Bamford (ST), Salvatore Sirigu (GK), Rick Karsdorp (RB/WB), Manuel Riemann (GK).
- Plan B specialists: Diego Costa as a late target and set‑piece focal point; Mertens to unlock low blocks off the bench.
How to prioritize your shortlist
Start with the roles you can’t fill in‑house. If your full backs are passive and your system relies on width, prioritize Renan Lodi or Sergio Reguilón and trim budget elsewhere. If your midfield gets overrun, one contract for Oriol Romeu or Fernandinho can stabilize your shape and raise standards on the training ground. Up top, Patrick Bamford handles Championship workloads as a starter; Diego Costa excels as a late‑game problem‑solver in tight matches.
For women’s squads, Sheridan is an immediate upgrade at goalkeeper for possession‑first teams, Santos raises set‑piece output and final‑third craft, and Cascarino adds pace that changes transition moments. If you need a versatile defender who can rotate through injury spells, Esme Morgan is hard to beat on a free.
The free‑agent window is unforgiving: the best targets sign quickly, wage demands inflate as the days pass, and medicals can stall a deal. Open with your most pressing gaps, offer realistic playing time, and be ready with performance bonuses rather than long guaranteed terms. You can revisit Tomiyasu in January, but most of the value listed here is won or lost in week one.
