Our picks for the best free agents at the start of Football Manager 27 are Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho, with Paul Pogba, Sergio Ramos, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raphaël Guerreiro close behind. Sancho, at 26, is our pick as a long-term signing rather than a one-season stopgap.
Below is the full shortlist by position, the younger free agents worth a look, and the Football Manager 27 setup choices that decide whether these players are still available when you go shopping. Sports Interactive has not published a free agent list, so the names here are our picks. SI warns that the preview build “may contain data that does not, at this time, accurately reflect real world data,” so check a player is still unattached before you build a plan around him.
The Best FM27 Free Agents at the Start of a Save
All of these players are unattached when a save begins in July 2026:
| Player | Age | Position | Why sign him |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karim Benzema | 38 | Striker | One of the two highest-rated free agents at the start |
| Riyad Mahrez | 35 | Right winger | Level with Benzema at the top of the free agent ratings |
| Christian Eriksen | 34 | Central or defensive midfielder | A creative passer who can also sit deeper |
| Jadon Sancho | 26 | Winger | The best mix of quality and age on the list |
| Paul Pogba | 33 | Central midfielder | A big-name midfielder who can also play further forward |
| Sergio Ramos | 40 | Centre-back | A veteran centre-back for a season or two |
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | 29 | Left-back or midfielder | An inverted full-back with years left |
| Raphaël Guerreiro | 32 | Left-back or midfielder | Versatile and technically strong |
| Mauro Icardi | 33 | Striker | An out-and-out striker |
| Raheem Sterling | 31 | Winger | Experienced wide forward |
| Anthony Martial | 30 | Striker or left winger | Can play up front or on the left wing |
Treat the older names as one- or two-season signings. A 38-year-old striker or a 40-year-old centre-back will decline quickly, and their wage demands are high for players who may not finish a second season. Ramos is the classic dressing-room signing: even as his physical attributes fade, the mental side is what you pay for.
Younger Free Agents Worth a Look
If you want resale value or a player for several seasons, look below the headline names. Tom Davies (28, central or defensive midfielder) and Ryan Kent (29, attacking midfielder or winger) are also unattached at the start, both young enough to hold their level for a few years. Sancho remains the standout here: at 26 he is the one free agent who could still be improving.
Smaller clubs should search beyond these names entirely. The big names above are unlikely to want lower-league football, so a League One or Championship side will get more from filtering for free agents with the right reputation for its level.
How to Find Free Agents in FM27
Sports Interactive’s own first-hours tips for FM27 point to the Player Database:
- Open the Player Database and use the Quick Filters. SI says they show “which players may be free agents, approaching the end of their deals or have been transfer or loan listed.”
- Add a release clause filter. SI suggests filtering for players with minimum fee release clauses, which can land a bargain “before your rivals beat you to it.”
- Check the Recruitment screen for agent offers. In FM27, agents offering their clients appear on the Recruitment screen throughout a window, with more arriving on Transfer Deadline Day.
- Read the scout report. FM27 scout reports show Tactical Effectiveness, so you can see whether a free agent suits your system before you offer a contract.
- Lean on your Director of Football. SI says the Director of Football now advises on fees and payment structures, which helps when a free agent’s demands look steep.
Remember that a free agent costs no transfer fee, not nothing. You still pay wages, and usually a signing-on fee and an agent fee, so compare the total against what a cheap transfer would cost.
Setup Choices That Change Who Is Available
FM27 offers three transfer modes when you set up a save, and they matter for free agents:
- Original: squads reflect all updated transfers, whenever they happened in real life.
- Real World: transfers happen on their real-life dates. A free agent who signed for a club in real life after your save starts will join that club on the same date in-game, so sign him first if you want him.
- Your World: data is accurate as of the start of the 2026/27 season, with no further real-life transfers applied.
Advanced Setup also has an “Allow First Transfer Window Activity” option. Leave it on if you want AI clubs competing for these players from day one. SI notes that advanced settings cannot be changed once the save is created.
Should You Sign Free Agents in FM27?
Yes, with a plan. FM27’s new Tactical Effectiveness system ties how well your tactic works to player ability, buy-in and tactical understanding, so an experienced free agent who suits your system can lift a squad quickly. For long-term building, pair one or two veterans with the young players in our FM27 wonderkids guide, and if you are still choosing a club, our best teams to manage has picks for every play style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best free agent in FM27? In the Launch Preview database, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez are the highest-rated free agents at the start, with Christian Eriksen just behind. Jadon Sancho is our pick for the long term.
Is Jadon Sancho a free agent in FM27? Yes. Sancho is unattached at the start of a save, at 26, which makes him the best long-term option among the free agents.
How do you find free agents in FM27? Open the Player Database and use the Quick Filters to show free agents, players near the end of their contracts and transfer-listed players.
Do free agents cost anything in FM27? There is no transfer fee, but you still pay wages, and usually a signing-on fee and an agent fee.
Can AI clubs sign the free agents before me? Yes. With first-window transfer activity on, AI clubs compete for them, and in Real World transfer mode some move on their real-life dates.
Do free agents signed in the Launch Preview carry over? Yes. Launch Preview careers continue into the full game, as our Launch Preview guide explains.