Mbappe, Rabiot, Depay and the best players whose contract expired at the end of the 2023-24 season
The 2023/24 season is now over and a string of high-profile footballers have reached the end of their contracts.
Free transfers are becoming more common in football as a lot of players choose to run their contracts down before picking their next move.
We’ve taken a look at 10 of the best players whose contract expired on 30 June 2024. We’ve also told you if a player has already agreed a contract with another club or if they are currently a free agent.
Note: we’ve not included Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez, who have verbally agreed to sign new contracts at Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain forked out £166million to sign Mbappe in the summer of 2018, making him the second-most expensive player of all time.
The 25-year-old justified that fee and went on to become PSG’s all-time top goalscorer, netting 256 goals in 308 appearances in all competitions.
But the Ligue 1 side have lost their star asset on a free transfer after he decided not to trigger a one-year extension in his contract.
“It’s a lot of emotions, many years where I had the chance and the great honour to be a member of the biggest French club, one of the best in the world,” he said after confirming his departure.
“It allowed me to arrive here, to have my first experience in a club with a lot of pressure, to grow as a player of course, by being alongside some of the best in history, some of the greatest champions.
“It’s hard and I never thought it would be this difficult to announce that. But I think I needed this, a new challenge, after seven years.”
The France international has now signed a five-year contract at Real Madrid, and he is reportedly due to receive a £106.5million signing-on bonus.
Memphis Depay
Depay joined Atletico Madrid from Barcelona in January 2023 and scored 13 goals in 40 appearances for the club, although the form of Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann limited him to just 14 starts.
While initial reports claimed that he was under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until 2025, his deal actually expired at the end of the 2023/24 season as he did not meet the requirements to trigger a contract extension.
The Netherlands international is now a free agent and will be aiming to impress potential suitors at this summer’s European Championship.
According to reports in Italy, Roma and AC Milan have both expressed an interest in the former Manchester United forward.
Mehdi Taremi
Taremi spent four years at Porto and scored 91 goals in 182 appearances in all competitions, including the 2020/21 Champions League goal of the season.
But the Iran international left on a free transfer at the end of the 2023/24 season after talks over a new contract proved fruitless.
“I had only one meeting with them to talk about my contract extension, I made my requests and they told me no,” he said. “This marked the end between me and Porto.”
The striker has now signed a two-year contract at Inter Milan, who have also signed former Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski on a free transfer.
The 2020-21 UEFA goal of the season:
Mehdi Taremi’s bicycle kick against Chelsea 🚲(🎥: @UEFAcom_fr)pic.twitter.com/kl46ihKKSz
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 29, 2021
Marco Reus
Reus joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2012 and went on to make 429 appearances for the club, registering 170 goals and 131 assists in all competitions.
But he played a bit-part role for Dortmund in the 2023/24 season and both parties mutually agreed not to extend the 35-year-old’s contract.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy want to sign him on a free transfer and have submitted their contract proposal.
The Germany international is still considering his options as he also has offers on the table from teams in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Guido Rodriquez
Since joining Real Betis from Club America in January 2020, Rodriquez has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in La Liga.
The Argentina international – who has 29 caps – also collected a World Cup winner’s medal after his nation’s success at Qatar 2022.
He reached a verbal agreement with Barcelona to join the club as a free agent, but that deal fell apart after Xavi was replaced by Hansi Flick.
That has opened the door to other clubs and the 30-year-old has recently been linked with Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Napoli.
Adrien Rabiot
Rabiot turned down a free transfer exit from Juventus at the end of the 2022/23 season and signed a one-year extension but that deal has now expired.
Juventus have now bought Douglas Luiz and are also looking to sign Khephren Thuram as they try to replace the midfielder.
“I thought my future would have been sorted before the Euros,” the France international admitted. “That isn’t the case but I’m not worried about that. I am focused on the competition.
“I have put that to one side. I am speaking to my agent but that’s a secondary priority. I am fully focused on the France national team. I’m not worried about my future.”
Adrien Rabiot: Right place, right time 🇫🇷💥 @juventusfcen pic.twitter.com/BHJR88ZPPc
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 5, 2023
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago arrived at Liverpool with some serious pedigree, having won four La Liga titles, seven Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues during his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
While the midfielder showed glimpses of quality in the Premier League, his career at Anfield was plagued by a number of injury problems.
He left Liverpool on a free transfer and has been linked with teams in the Saudi Pro League, although Fabrizio Romano has revealed that his priority is to stay in Europe and compete at the highest level.
Girona – who finished third in La Liga in the 2023/24 season – have reportedly contacted his entourage to explore a potential deal.
Tosin Adarabioyo
Adarabioyo came through the academy at Manchester City before joining Fulham in a £2million deal in the summer of 2020.
The centre-back made 132 appearances for the club in all competitions and produced the best form of his career in the 2023/24 season.
Fulham were willing to make him one of the highest-paid players at Craven Cottage, but he rejected their contract offer and left on a free transfer.
Chelsea fought off competition from Newcastle United and Manchester United to sign the 26-year-old, handing him a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Raphael Varane
Varane has spent the last three seasons at Manchester United and added the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup to his medal-laden CV.
But he left Old Trafford at the end of the 2023/24 campaign after United decided against triggering the one-year extension in his contract.
The 31-year-old is now plotting his next career move and has held talks with Serie A side Como, who are managed by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Roma are also looking to bring the centre-back to Italy, while Saudi Pro League and MLS sides are reportedly monitoring his situation.
Mario Hermoso
Hermoso joined Atletico Madrid from Espanyol and became a key player under Diego Simeone, making 174 appearances in all competitions.
Atletico wanted him to sign a new contract on reduced wages, but he rejected their proposal and left the club on a free transfer.
The left-footed centre-back won’t be short of offers as he has been linked with Aston Villa, Newcastle United, West Ham, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Napoli, Besiktas and multiple Saudi Pro League clubs.
“Mario wants to play in a major league,” his agent said. “He doesn’t want to discard any options. He wants to play for important goals. We will evaluate any project that may come for the next few years, this is the player’s aspiration.”
Honourable mentions: Keylor Navas, Mats Hummels, Sergio Ramos, Wilfred Ndidi, Tanguy Ndombele, Alex Berenguer, Angel Di Maria, Che Adams, Anthony Martial.