Top Five 2025 Free Agents Who Can Start Negotiating Transfers in January
Every January comes with a different level of excitement for football fans. It signals the opening of the winter transfer window when football clubs have a chance to buy, sell, and loan players to further reinforce their squads for the rest of the season.
The winter transfer window is, however, not the only transfer window that opens in January. There is also the Bosman transfer window, which allows players in the final six months of their contracts the freedom to negotiate with other clubs and secure a free transfer at the end of the season.
Of course, no football club or fan wants their best players to leave, at least not for free. However, issues like unresolved contract negotiations, unmet demands, or simply the desire for a fresh challenge result in a player entering the last six months of their contract without new agreements with their current club.
In this article, we’ll look at five high-profile players who could be on the move as free transfers at the end of the season. But before we dive in, you can visit this website to bet on your favorite football events or other exciting games.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah has been at Liverpool for seven incredible years. The Egyptian forward has been a talisman ever since he arrived in 2017, carving out a legacy as Liverpool's most consistent and influential player over the last seven years. Even now, at 32, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
This season, he's been in scintillating form, scoring 18 goals and 13 assists to lead both the scoring and assist charts. Liverpool currently sits comfortably atop both the Premier League and Champions League tables, and it's no exaggeration to say that Salah's brilliance has been one of the driving forces behind their dominance.
So, why does it feel like Liverpool might let him walk away for free? Well, reports suggest that the club and Salah are locked in a stalemate over his contract demands. The forward is reportedly seeking terms that Liverpool seems hesitant to meet, and with no renewal in sight, clubs across Europe are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich came into the Bayern Munich team in 2015, and over the years, he's established himself as a core part of the team. The German midfielder has also so far played an important part in the team's performance this season, as he's featured in every league match.
Being 29, Kimmich is currently at his career peak and still definitely has a place on the Bayern team for a couple of years or more. However, the player is currently hesitant to commit his future to the Bundesliga giants despite currently having a quite lucrative offer on the table.
Over the years, there have been some rumors of interest from top European giants like Barcelona and Man City. With the possibility of a free transfer, other top teams will also be monitoring the situation, and if he ends up not renewing, they won't hesitate to snap him up.
Trent Alexander Arnold
A product of Liverpool's academy, Trent Alexander Arnold has grown into an indispensable part of the team and has, in fact, established himself as one of the best full-backs in the world. With a young player like Arnold, Liverpool fans are beginning to believe that they've got the right-back position covered for the foreseeable future.
However, if your team isn't Barcelona or Real Madrid, you can never confidently bet on a player sticking around for the rest of their career. With Real Madrid reportedly knocking on the door, Trent's stay at Liverpool is now beginning to look uncertain. While Liverpool fans will hope he stays loyal to his boyhood club, the allure of playing at the Bernabéu is hard to ignore. If he doesn't renew, Liverpool will be losing one of their brightest stars in his prime for free.
Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davies broke into the Bayern Munich senior team in 2019, and since then, he has become a significant part of the team as a solid left-back. The 24-year-old Canadian defender is definitely one player Bayern Munich wouldn't want to lose.
However, with his contract now in its final six months, Bayern Munich finds themselves in a race against time to secure his future. While reports suggest that renewal talks are in progress and a contract extension could be announced soon, there's still a degree of uncertainty around Alphonso staying at the club. This is due to a strong interest from Real Madrid, which could be a really tempting move for the player. Other top clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United are also said to be keeping close tabs on him.
Kevin De Bruyne
Since joining the club in 2015, De Bruyne has established himself as a true City legend, playing an important role in their domestic and European dominance. But after nine trophy-laden years, his incredible story with Manchester City might finally be coming to an end.
The 33-year-old playmaker has been plagued with injuries in the past few years, so it's understandable that there's been little to no progress on a renewal deal with the club. Although the player's quality remains undoubted, there's a high chance that he'll be considering a lucrative move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia rather than any other top European team.
Honorable Mentions
There are loads of other high-profile players who are currently in the last six months of their contracts and may be leaving their current teams for free at the end of the season. Big names like Leroy Sané, Neymar, Son Heung-min, Jonathan David, Jonathan Tah, and even Lionel Messi are a few examples. It's, however, not certain that they will end up leaving, as there is still enough time to reach an agreement for a contract extension with their various clubs.