16 free agents that Wolves can still sign - including ex-Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd and Newcastle stars
The most high profile free agents that are still yet to find a new club
Wolves are expected to be involved in a relegation battle this season. They’ve had a challenging start and find their eight-season record of being a top-flight club in jeopardy.
Recruitment along with performances out on the pitch will be crucial in deciding whether both Vitor Pereira and Wolves will remain in the Premier League by May. However, the club has limited opportunities to get things right. The January window is still two months away and even that only gives them a short amount of time to get fresh bodies into the building and project the team up the table.
Until that time comes, Wolves will largely be reliant on the players that they have, although they could still opt to shake things up slightly by taking a gamble on any hidden gems without clubs.
Signing free agents is often a risky business, and as harsh as it sounds, often there is a reason the players don’t have clubs be that wage demands, fitness or their form over the last few seasons. However, there are also some exceptions to that statement that could potentially have a transformative effect on a team.
With that in mind, we take a look at 30 of the most high-profile footballers that are currently free agents. Would you like to see any of these at Wolves?
Ex-Premier League stars without a club
Takehiro Tomiyasu: Ex-Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is seeking a new challenge after leaving Mikel Arteta’s side. He’s an incredibly versatile defender that’s proven himself in the league and Europe. Persistent knee injuries have derailed his progress but he remains keen to get back on the pitch in the near future.
Sergio Reguilón: Former Tottenham and Man Utd defender Sergio Reguilon is without a club and is still searching for a new team. He’s believed to be close to signing for Inter Miami but hasn’t yet agreed a deal, meaning he could still be signed by a top-flight club.
Hakim Ziyech: Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech, who formed part of Chelsea’s last Champions League winning team is currently without a club. He’s blessed with tremendous flair and the ability to produce moments of individual brilliance but has struggled in the Middle East with persistent injuries.
Jamal Lewis: Once signed for £12m, Jamal Lewis is a free agent after leaving Newcastle United. He was once rated highly at Norwich and very nearly joined Liverpool earlier in his career. He struggled to find form in the North East, however, and has been blighted by injury. He missed the whole of last season and remains on the hunt for a new challenge.
Rui Patrício: Former Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio is without a club at the age of 37. He enjoyed plenty of highs in his three seasons at Molineux before joining AS Roma, Atalanta and most recently Al Ain in the United Arab of Emirates.
Javier Manquillo: Ex-Liverpool and Newcastle full-back Javier Manquillo is without a club after being released from Celta Vigo. The 31-year-old has more than 100 matches of Premier League experience and can play on either side of the defence.
Demitri Payet: The streets won’t forget Demitri Payet for his heroics in West Ham’s 2015/16 season. He’s since played for Marseille and most recently Vasco de Gama in Brazil but is without a club aged 38 after an injury-hit time in Rio de Janeiro.
Odion Ighalo: Best known for his time at Watford, Odion Ighalo also briefly returned to England to play for Manchester United. The Nigerian, aged 36, has spent the last three years in the Middle East but is now without a club.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: A former stalwart for Liverpool and Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain only became a free agent in the final days of the summer window when Besiktas made the decision to release him a year early. The former England international actually played fairly well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season so it’s fair to say the decision was a slightly surprising one.
Dele Alli: Another former England international. Few players have experienced a bigger fall from grace than Dele Alli in the last decade. As recently as 2019, Alli was representing Tottenham in a Champions League final but now those days feel like a distant memory.
He’s endured underwhelming spells with Everton and Bestikas in recent years and was recently released from Italian side Como after playing just once last season. He was sent off in that particular match.
Mario Balotelli: Manchester City cult hero and ex-Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli is without a club. The Euro 2012 finalist failed to score in six appearances for Genoa in Serie A and has had mixed success in spells at Adana Demirspor, Marseille and Nice among others since leaving English football.
Other notable free agents
The likes of four-time Serie A winner, Miralem Pjanić, 54-time Italian international Lorenzo Insigne, and former Barcelona winger Christian Tello are all aged 34 and without a club.
Vincent Aboubakar, who has represented Cameroon 115 times at international level, also finds himself without a club. Aboubakar led the line for FC Porto and Besiktas among others and won the Golden Boot in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Douglas Costa, who won league titles with Bayern Munich and Juventus is also a free agent, aged 35, having most recently played for Sydney FC in Australia.