Paul Pogba and David Alaba headline 10 big-name free agents still searching for clubs

The summer transfer window may have slammed shut, but the free-agent market remains packed with high-profile names still searching for their next club.

Among the most eye-catching players without a team are former Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, ex-England star Raheem Sterling, World Cup winner Paul Pogba and Real Madrid defender David Alaba.

The Premier League set a new summer spending record for the second consecutive season, with clubs reportedly splashing around £3.46 billion on new signings, including blockbuster moves for Enzo Fernandez and Bradley Barcola.

Across Europe, the spending spree also brought major moves involving players such as Yan Diomande, Rodri and Gonçalo Ramos. Yet, despite the extraordinary level of activity, several established stars were unable to secure a deal before the window closed.

Pogba searching for fresh start

Pogba is among the biggest names on the list after his brief return to French football came to an unexpected end.

The 2018 World Cup winner left Monaco after his contract was terminated following just one season with the club. His campaign was severely limited, with the midfielder making only six appearances, five of them from the bench.

At 33, Pogba is now assessing his options and has attracted interest from Major League Soccer as he considers a move that could offer him a fresh chapter in his career.

The Frenchman remains one of the most decorated midfielders available, although his recent struggles and lack of regular football have complicated his search for a new employer.

Sancho and Sterling facing uncertain futures

Sancho’s situation is similarly intriguing after his difficult spell at Manchester United finally came to an end.

The England international endured loan spells at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa before being released by United, bringing an increasingly turbulent period in his career to a close.

Sancho has continued working on his fitness and has been using the facilities at Flixton FC to maintain his conditioning while waiting for the right opportunity.

There was interest from Qatari side Al Rayyan, who made an enquiry over his availability, but a deal has yet to materialise.

Sterling, meanwhile, has also been left without a club after Chelsea terminated his contract following a disappointing period that included a failed loan spell at Feyenoord.

The 31-year-old’s fall from prominence mirrors Sancho’s in some respects, with both once regarded as key attacking talents for England but now facing uncertainty over their next destinations.

Experienced stars still on the market

The free-agent pool extends well beyond the former Premier League stars.

Yves Bissouma is another experienced name searching for a new club, while Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also without teams after their respective spells in England.

Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez remains another notable player available, despite his continued status as one of the most decorated African players of his generation.

Real Madrid stalwart Dani Carvajal is also among those currently in limbo, adding further quality and experience to a market that remains unusually strong after the closure of the conventional transfer window.

Former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi completes another prominent name on the list.

Alaba, meanwhile, is another major defensive option available. The Austria international has enjoyed a decorated career at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid but now finds himself without a club as he weighs up his next move.

Free agents can still find an escape

The closure of the summer window does not necessarily mean the end of the road for these players.

With the free-agent market operating beyond the traditional transfer deadline, clubs can still move for unattached players, subject to the relevant competition and registration rules.

Their next moves may not command the transfer fees associated with the summer’s biggest deals, but with so much experience still available, the free-agent market could yet produce some of the window’s most intriguing late stories.