Christian Eriksen
At 33, the Danish midfielder remains one of the most technically proficient free agents available, offering clubs a proven creative strength with deep positional understanding.
Eriksen’s main strength lies in his ability to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, where his vision and passing range can dictate tempo and create numerical advantages in advanced areas.
From a tactical perspective, Eriksen functions optimally in systems that prioritize possession-based buildup play. His tactical vision enables him to consistently find space between the opponent’s lines, while his first touch and quick decision-making provide fast ball circulation.
Tillfälligt besök på dagens träning. 👋
Christian Eriksen passar på att träna med tidigare lagkamrater från Brentford och danska landslaget.
Vi vill förtydliga att det rör sig om en träning och inte en transfer. pic.twitter.com/N1aWnNnyR0
— Malmö FF (@Malmo_FF) September 4, 2025
However, Christian Eriksen’s defensive contribution in pressing situations requires specific system adjustments, as he’s struggled in a high-pressing system and in aerial duels.
The Danish player seems to be taking his time with his next move. He’s not in a hurry and is looking for a situation that suits both his professional goals and personal preferences, specifically wanting to play in Western Europe at a first-tier competition level. He values finding a meaningful fit over rushing into a quick signing, so he remains patient, even as the transfer window draws to a close.
Hakim Ziyech
Hakim Ziyech’s most recent contract was with Al-Duhail in Qatar, which he joined in January 2025. This arrangement was short-term, and by late May, both the club and the player agreed to terminate the deal, making him a free agent outside of the traditional transfer window.
Prior to this, Ziyech spent two seasons at Galatasaray, initially on loan from Chelsea and then permanently. During his time there, he won titles but later expressed frustration over limited playing time and management, describing his situation as a “disaster” and expressing regret about the transfer.
At his first big club, Ajax, Ziyech thrived in a possession-dominant system under Erik ten Hag. He had the freedom to drift into the half-space, receive facing goal, and deliver diagonal inswingers toward advancing runners.
🇲🇦🎯 This Hakim Ziyech pass… 😍 pic.twitter.com/SHEDXtypL6
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 5, 2025
The collective pressing and structured rotations of Ajax protected his defensive weaknesses and maximized his strengths. He was the “final-action” player in a team built to supply constant overloads.
This environment was unique: high dominance in the Eredivisie, plenty of space for transitions, and a team constructed on creative freedom. As soon as he left, the game became less favorable
Reports from Turkey and Qatar highlighted Hakim Ziyech’s frustration with his playing roles, minutes on the field, and management decisions. His strong personality, which makes him unwilling to compromise his playing style, has sometimes conflicted with clubs that expect more adaptability from their players.
😳 Hakim Ziyech to Elche could possibly be one of the most random football transfers ever. pic.twitter.com/6LVftEKsaH
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 29, 2025
Additionally, many clubs have serious concerns about his salary demands and his current form and fitness. Elche, one of the few teams interested in him, initially paused negotiations for these reasons.
Lorenzo Insigne
Insigne officially parted ways with Toronto FC on July 1, 2025, via a mutual contract termination. His tenure in MLS was widely viewed as underwhelming, with just 15 goals and 10 assists over four seasons, falling short of expectations tied to his status. This period, which included injuries and inconsistencies, left his form and value somewhat uncertain.
However, the Italian forward offers tactical versatility through his ability to operate across various attacking positions and consistently create a goal threat. His low center of gravity and quick directional changes make him effective in systems that prioritize quick passing combinations and movement in tight spaces.
🚨🟡🔵 Lorenzo Insigne, in talks to join Parma as free agent after leaving Toronto.
Insigne’s keen on the move with Serie A return as his priority. pic.twitter.com/uowXnEEFvj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2025
At the same time, teams employing Insigne would need to create systems that minimize direct physical battles while maximizing his technical advantages in space.
Insigne’s top preference is a return to Serie A with Lazio, a club where he hopes to reunite with Maurizio Sarri, his former coach at Napoli. However, Lazio are currently under a transfer ban imposed due to financial irregularities, meaning they can’t register new players until potentially October or even January. That delay is the main reason why Insigne might be postponing other options.
Sergio Reguilón
Sergio Reguilón officially left Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the 2024-25 season after his contract expired, a decision confirmed shortly after Spurs’ triumph in the Europa League in May 2025.
Reguilón is a player who, when he first broke through at Real Madrid and especially during his loan at Sevilla in 2019-20, looked like one of the most promising young left-backs in Europe.
At Sevilla, Julen Lopetegui created an environment that suited his strengths. Reguilón excelled as an aggressive, dynamic full-back in a 4-3-3 formation that promoted high overlaps while providing support with a narrow defensive block behind him. His intensity, eagerness to advance, and ability to deliver cut-back passes made him an asset for any top team.
🚨🇪🇸 Sergio Reguilón, assessing options on the market as he’s available as free agent with several clubs making contact.
Movements already started after former Real Madrid and Man United left back said goodbye to Spurs. pic.twitter.com/68AGsduNfT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 31, 2025
But at bigger clubs such as Tottenham, Manchester United, and Atlético Madrid, the expectations went beyond just athleticism and overlapping runs. Coaches expected players to play a role in slower, more structured attacks, manage build-up phases under pressure, and provide defensive stability against top wingers.
In these aspects, his skillset was somewhat limited. While he continued to be a strong runner, he wasn’t as adept at tight combination play or maintaining defensive width without risking exposure.
Moreover, across his Spurs years, Reguilón struggled with several minor injuries that interrupted his momentum. The Spanish player is currently focusing on opportunities at clubs participating in European leagues, even if it means waiting rather than signing quickly.
Dele Alli
Dele Alli joined Serie A team Como in January 2025 on an 18-month contract, aiming to revive his career. However, he made only one appearance, coming on as a substitute against Milan, where he received a red card just ten minutes later. Following this incident, he was excluded from manager Cesc Fàbregas’s plans. As a result, both parties agreed to a mutual contract termination in early September.
Dele’s rise at Tottenham was spectacular because he entered a system under Mauricio Pochettino that was built to maximize his natural instincts. Spurs played with a narrow attacking midfield line behind Harry Kane, which gave Dele freedom to make late runs into the box — his specialty.
Dele Alli vs Real Madrid, 2017/18.pic.twitter.com/NyuFcXKmtK
— Random Comps (@CompsArchive) September 3, 2025
He wasn’t asked to dictate tempo, recycle possession, or act as a deep playmaker. Instead, he thrived as a “ghost runner,” arriving unmarked to score goals from secondary movements. That made him one of the most dangerous midfield scorers in Europe at the time.
But when Spurs evolved, opponents adapted, and Pochettino left, the structures that allowed him to shine disappeared. Under José Mourinho and subsequent managers, Dele was often required to play deeper, more controlled roles, where his limitations in ball progression and press resistance became more apparent. His unique talent, timed runs, became harder to express in slower, less vertical systems.
Moreover, after 2019, his career was often disrupted by recurring minor injuries: hamstring, ankle, groin, and hip. Each one diminished his explosiveness and rhythm.
🚨 Dele Alli, available as free agent after contract terminated with immediate effect at Como. pic.twitter.com/IDSiBcSBzo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 2, 2025
In 2023, Dele spoke openly about his struggles with mental health, trauma, and addiction to sleeping pills.
West Bromwich Albion have been linked as a possible next club, citing a past connection with manager Ryan Mason from their Tottenham days. It’s viewed as a potential opportunity for him to rebuild, but no move has been confirmed.
