Benzema, Pogba, Sancho and Sterling: What now for football’s free agents?

Published On 3 Sep 20263 Sep 2026.

Key points

• Now 35, Mahrez has been published by Saudi club Al Ahli, having only just appeared at FIFA World Cup 2026 for Algeria.
• At only 26, his career is in limbo, having been published by Manchester United, the club he joined in 2021 for 73 million pounds ($97m) from Borussia Dortmund.
• Benzema moved from Real Madrid in 2023 to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, where he spent three seasons and was only six months into his Al-Hilal contract.
• A fellow World Cup winner alongside Pogba – and a former Ballon d'Or winner – Karim Benzema is additionally hunting for a new club.
• From his beginnings at his local club – Queens Park Rangers in London – to England honours, the winger has courted the attention of Europe's top clubs.

Meanwhile, the transfer window in Europe may have shut for the summer, but a number of well known players could still produce major moves.

Even though the next transfer window doesn't open until January, players without a contract are still able to be signed by clubs in Europe.and indeed throughout the globe.

Al Jazeera takes a look at who could still be snapped up – and for free. Paul Pogba – ex-Manchester United and Juventus.

For context, the rise and fall of Paul Pogba will forever be one of the great frustrations of his fans and the clubs he played for.

Notably, the 33-year-old served an 18-month doping ban to March 2025, but injuries have meant he has played little football since and his contract with Monaco was terminated last month.

Notably, the Frenchman joined Monaco on a two-year accord from Juventus last summer, but the 2018 World Cup winner with France played only six games for the French club. Karim Benzema – ex-Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, a fellow World Cup winner alongside Pogba – and a former Ballon d'Or winner – Karim Benzema is additionally hunting for a new club. The 38-year-old's contract in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal was terminated on Monday.

Notably, a host of new signings, including Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, pushed Benzema down the pecking order. As well as contemplating Major League Soccer in the United States, much as Pogba is projected to do, Benzema is due to look elsewhere in the Saudi league. Jadon Sancho – ex-Manchester United and Chelsea.

Once regarded as one of English and European football's brightest talents, Jadon Sancho's demise is hard to fathom.

At only 26, his career is in limbo, having been published by Manchester United, the club he joined in 2021 for 73 million pounds ($97m) from Borussia Dortmund. The former Manchester City youth product created his name for dazzling skills and unstoppable dribbles, but he was sent out on loan to Aston Villa and Chelsea during his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford.

Clubs the world over will be interested in the winger, given his undoubted talent and tender age, but he will have to take a cut from the significant wages that he would have earned at United. Raheem Sterling – ex-Liverpool and Arsenal.

Another player that was once regarded as a rising star of English football, Raheem Sterling faces a make-or-break period in a career that has seen him rise to plenty of a high.

In practice, the 31-year-old's first major break came at Liverpool, with spells at Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal after. His most recent spell was at Feyenoord, with the Dutch club releasing him only three months and eight appearances into his stint. Riyad Mahrez – ex-Manchester City.

Notably, the rise of Riyad Mahrez was remarkable. A Premier League winner with Leicester City. This person he previously supported to promotion from the second tier of the English game, the winger would claim five top-flight winners' medals in total after a glittering career with Manchester City.

His 37 goals in 122 appearances in three years with Al Ahli is projected to mean the fleet-of-foot forward will not struggle to continue his career should he still have the desire. Philippe Coutinho, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba additionally available.

At 34 years of age, Philippe Coutinho is young enough to still be able to pull the strings for any side in the centre of the park anywhere in the world.

In practice, a star name in his time with Liverpool, Coutinho was seen as a massive loss to the Anfield club when he joined Barcelona. The Brazilian left his boyhood club Vasco de Gama in February and has taken a break from the game. The MLS, nevertheless, has long been linked with the South American.

Few players become free agents from Real Madrid and struggle to find a suitor. At 34, Dani Carvajal is unlikely to go quietly into the night after a stellar career with Los Blancos. This person he left in the summer after a 13-year stint with the record La Liga winners.

Fellow full-back, David Alaba, has additionally parted business with Real this summer and a move to Manchester United has been mooted.

Albeit at the back end of his career, at 34 years of age, Alaba could well be seen as cover on the left side of defence for United – a position they failed to reinforce in the transfer window.

Taken together, the developments around benzema, Pogba, Sancho and Sterling: What now for football's free agents? Point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.