In life, everybody loves a freebie, and when it comes to Football Manager, the same principle applies. With the release of FM26 looming, we thought we would take a look at potential free signings on the latest edition of the game. Enjoy!
Takehiro Tomiyasu
It is crazy to think that the Japanese defender is still a free agent, despite being just 26 years old. He showed promise during his four years with Arsenal in the Premier League before exiting the club in the summer.
The defender, who can play anywhere across the backline, also has 42 caps for his national team. This is not a player without pedigree.
However, the most likely reason that Tomiyasu is still a free agent is that his recent career has been plagued by injury. It seems no club are willing to take the risk on the Japanese international.
Despite his injury issues, it would be worth taking the risk on FM26, especially if you are playing as a mid to lower table Premier League team, or at the same level elsewhere in Europe.
Renan Lodi
The versatile Brazilian international is a free agent, having left Saudi outfit Al-Hilal in September. It’s unlikely that he will be a free agent for long, though, as his versatility and quality are likely to attract another European club in the near future.
Like Tomiyasu, Lodi is versatile, as he can play as a left-back and a left-sided midfielder. He also played a few games as a centre-back for Al-Hilal, but that negates his ability to attack, which is one of his biggest strengths.
Lodi is a player who would be a handy signing for most teams in the top leagues in Europe. He could start for many midtable teams, while providing a cost-effective back-up for more high-profile clubs.
In short, if you have the wage budget to sign Lodi, then he could turn out to be an early candidate for the best FM26 bargain. I mean, nothing beats a free signing, right?
Sergio Reguilón
When the Spanish international left Spurs as a free agent at the end of the season, most would assume that he would have been snapped up pretty quickly. Instead, we are halfway through October, and the 28-year-old left-back is still without a club.
Reguilón made a name for himself in his homeland first with Real Madrid and then with Sevilla. It was his performances at the latter that attracted interest from Premier League clubs.
He joined Tottenham in 2020, but arguably, his form was slightly underwhelming. He had loan spells at Atletico Madrid, before more temporary spells at Brentford and Manchester United.
He was never quite able to recapture his Sevilla form. However, he is still 28 and will likely have decent stats on FM26. As free transfer signings go, he could prove to be a shrewd one.
Hakim Ziyech
The Moroccan international has been without a club since leaving Qatar club, Al-Duhail SC, in July. Before moving to the Middle East club, the 32-year-old attacking midfielder enjoyed a stellar career in Europe with the likes of Ajax, Chelsea and Galatasaray.
The 32-year-old’s best spell arguably came while playing in the Eredivisie with Ajax, where he scored 79 goals and produced 89 assists in the Dutch top-flight.
Ziyech is no doubt in the twilight years of his career. However, he would add a touch of class to mid-range teams, even if he doesn’t play every game for a team. He could also be regarded as a highly useful impact sub who could create something if a team needs a goal.
His stats are likely to be still relatively high on FM26, so he could well prove to be an astute signing, especially on a free agent.
Paco Alcácer
The Spanish forward has been around the football scene for a good while, playing for clubs such as Barcelona, Valencia, and, perhaps most notably, Villarreal, as well as enduring an ill-fated spell in the Bundesliga at Dortmund. He has also won 19 caps for La Roja.
In 2022, the forward moved to the United Arab Emirates to join Sharjah FC. While in the UAE, he also had a loan spell with Emirates Club. In all, he scored 17 goals and produced 15 assists in 56 appearances in the UAE Pro League before leaving Sharjah FC when his contract expired in July.
If you are managing a top club, the versatile forward isn’t going to be on your radar as a potential signing. However, if you are a club slightly further down the European football food chain, he could be a player who proves helpful for a few seasons.
Similar to Ziyech, he may well be a handy squad player to have to come off the bench and make an impact, especially if his stats are still relatively high.
Which player is potentially the best free agent on FM26?
