7 of the Best Free Players in Football Manager 2024

The 1995 Bosman ruling allowed football players to freely leave clubs when their contracts expire. You can also take advantage of the Bosman ruling by signing free-agent players (or those with contracts close to their expiration dates) without paying transfer fees when playing Football Manager 2024. Signing free players is the most economical way to play the transfer market in FM24. These are some of the best free players in Football Manager 2024 you can sign in 2023.

David de Gea

David De Gea is a world-renowned goalkeeper who has played hundreds of games for Manchester Utd and 45 matches for Spain (in FM24). The great news for FM24 players is that this 32-year-old goalkeeper is available on a free transfer in 2023. This is a keeper with exceptional reflexes, outstanding agility, and great jumping reach. His positional play and kicking are also strengths of his game. De Gea’s command of area, throwing, and passing are weaknesses, but he’s still a top-class keeper to sign nonetheless (especially for free).

Best attribute ratings:

• Reflexes: 19
• Agility: 17
• Natural fitness: 17
• Determination: 16
• Aerial reach: 16
• Jumping Reach: 15
• Positioning: 15

José Campaña

José Campaña is a technically gifted central midfield player who could at least be a decent squad player for most Premier League and La Liga teams. He’s most proficient in the advanced and deep-lying playmaker midfield roles. Campaña is a player with excellent technique, passing, first touch, and composure. Although he’s not a young player at 30, Campaña probably has at least five seasons left in him and is certainly worth noting for a free transfer.

Best attribute ratings:

• Passing: 16
• Technique: 16
• Composure: 16
• Teamwork: 15
• Vision: 15
• Corners: 15
• Flair: 15

Carlos Vela

Carlos Vela is a dangerous attacking midfielder, forward, and winger who has played 72 games for Mexico in FM24. He’s a versatile player with excellent flair, agility, off-the-ball movement, and dribbling. Vela’s great passing, finishing, and vision also make him quite a handful for defenders to deal with. Vela might be nearing retirement age at 34, but he still has two or three good seasons left in him and is worth signing as a free agent.

Best attribute ratings:

• Flair: 17
• Dribbling: 16
• First touch: 16
• Agility: 16
• Off the ball: 16
• Passing: 15
• Finishing: 15

Shkodran Mustafi

Shkodran Mustafi is a central defender Arsenal signed for 35 million in real life, who you can sign for free in FM24 during 2023. This central defender is strong in the air, an advantage for defending the penalty box from corners, set-pieces, and crosses. He’s a very aggressive, strong, and brave player with decent attribute ratings for defensive positioning and marking. Mustafi is slightly beyond peak playing age at 31, but is still a very decent central defender to sign with a free transfer.

Best attribute ratings:

• Work rate: 16
• Aggression: 16
• Bravery: 16
• Heading: 15
• Jumping reach: 15
• Strength: 15
• Teamwork: 15

Helder Costa

Costa is a decent winger who can play on the left or right side of midfield. He’s a fast player with excellent flair, good technique, and decent dribbling attribute ratings. Although he’s not a world-class winger comparable to Saka and Mbappé, Costa could be a great player for any Championship or second-tier division team. Costa is also still at a peak playing age of 29, making him a better long-term signing than many other out-of-contract players in 2023.

Best attribute ratings:

• Flair: 16
• Pace: 15
• Acceleration: 15
• Technique: 15
• Dribbling: 14
• First touch: 14
• Agility: 14

Ryan Bertrand

Ryan Bertrand is a decent full-back and wing-back who has played 19 games for England, you can snap up for 0 in FM24. He’s a player with a great work rate who had decent attribute ratings for tackling, decisions, marking, and technique. Bertrand’s overall game is solid, and he could at least be a decent squad player for many sides, even though he might be nearing retirement at 33.

Best attribute ratings:

• Work rate: 15
• Decisions: 15
• Bravery: 14
• Tackling: 14
• Technique: 14
• Marking: 14

Xeka

This central midfielder has been linked to Arsenal as a free agent in real life. The Gunners were probably interested in Xeka because he’s a very determined team player with great vision, first touch, and passing. He’s not as good as Ødegaard but would be a decent backup for him in Arsenal’s squad. Furthermore, Xeka is a player in his prime years at 28 who must have at least five good seasons to offer your team in Football Manager 2024.

Best attribute ratings:

• Passing: 15
• First touch: 15
• Teamwork: 15
• Vision: 15
• Determination: 15
• Technique: 14
• Flair: 14

Those are seven of the best free players in Football Manager 2024 you should certainly check out if your club’s transfer budget is slightly restricted. However, they’re worth noting even if you do have more substantial transfer funds. The players above will likely enhance many top-division squads in Europe’s top leagues. Make sure you sign them ASAP in 2023 because they probably won’t be free agents for long.