EA FC 26 Career Mode features some of the very best players in the world, but when it comes to the transfer market, you can’t always swing for the fences. Unexpected injuries, late departures, or shoestring budgets can often leave you needing urgent reinforcements that don’t break the bank. And that’s precisely where free agents come in. These players are solid footballers who are yet to sign with any club, meaning they can be picked up for free. So, if you’re looking for some contract-expiry players, here are the best free agents in EA FC 26.
Best FC 26 Free Agents to Sign
Our picks for the best FC 26 free agents cover both your first Career Mode season as well as the 2026/2027 campaign. There are some impressive stars you can snap up immediately, but even better players will be available for free next season. Even if the listed player signs a contract in real life, he’ll still be available on a free transfer in the game. This is because the devs don’t update contract durations after a certain point.
With all that said, here are the best free agents and contract expiry players on the transfer market:
Best Free Agents (First Season)
| Player Name | Position | Nationality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakim Ziyech | RM | Morocco | 78 |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | RB | Japan | 78 |
| Christian Eriksen | CM | Denmark | 76 |
| Oriol Romeu | CM | Spain | 76 |
| Victor Lindelof | CB | Sweden | 75 |
| Matti De Sciglio | RB | Italy | 75 |
| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | CM | England | 75 |
| Dele Alli | CM | England | 71 |
| Patrick Bamford | ST | England | 71 |
| Jamal Lewis | LB | Northern Ireland | 68 |
It’s slim pickings as far as free agents during the 2025/2026 season is concerned, barring a small selection of players. If you’re quick enough, you can recruit Champions League winners in Hakim Ziyech and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. In the midfield, former Barcelona man Oriol Romeu is available on a free, and the same can be said for the seasoned Christian Eriksen.
Dele Alli, who was once on the trajectory to super stardom, recently saw his contract with Como cut short. As a result, he’ll be available as a free agent in FC 26 Career Mode. Other notable contract expiry players, such as Miralem Pjanic and Lorenzo Insigne, are missing from the EA FC 26 database, which is why they haven’t been included on this list. With that said, we’ll be sure to add more players after going through the final database.
Best Free Agents (Second Season)
| Player Name | Position | Nationality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lewandowski | ST | Poland | 88 |
| Frenkie De Jong | CDM | Netherlands | 87 |
| Mike Maignan | GK | France | 87 |
| Ibrahima Konate | CB | France | 86 |
| Antonio Rudiger | CB | Germany | 86 |
| Dayot Upamecano | CB | France | 85 |
| Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | CM | Serbia | 84 |
| Bernardo Silva | CM | Portugal | 84 |
| Ruben Neves | CDM | Portugal | 84 |
| Julian Brandt | CAM | Germany | 83 |
| Marc Guehi | CB | England | 82 |
| Dusan Vlahovic | ST | Serbia | 82 |
| Leon Goretzka | CM | Germany | 82 |
| Serge Gnabry | RM | Germany | 82 |
| Andrew Robertson | LB | Scotland | 82 |
| John Stones | CB | Manchester City | 82 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | CM | Uruguay | 80 |
| Casemiro | CDM | Brazil | 80 |
| Quinten Timber | CM | Netherlands | 80 |
| Harry Maguire | CB | England | 80 |
| Franck Kessie | CDM | Ivory Coast | 80 |
| Eric Garcia | CB | Spain | 79 |
| Yves Bissouma | CDM | Mali | 78 |
| Weston McKennie | CM | USA | 78 |
| Rico Henry | LB | England | 76 |
There’s a wealth of free agents to pick from during your second Career Mode season. By acting early in the transfer market, you could recruit the talented Barcelona duo of Frenkie De Jong and Robert Lewandowski. If you’re in need of a veteran center-back to come and tidy things up at the back, look no further than Antonio Rudiger. And if long-term investment is on your agenda, Ibrahima Konate will be available on a free, provided you can compete with the likes of Real Madrid.
In 2026, some top players will also be out of their Saudi Pro League contracts, meaning you can finally bring the likes of Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic back to Europe.
We’ll be sure to update this list with more players or make changes if required. Until then, let us know which star you’re planning on recruiting in FC 26.
