Football Manager 2022 has arrived, which means it's time to start shopping savvy and scanning the market for the best players to improve your team.
FM22 Pre-contract players
Pre-contract players are defined as any player over the age of 23 who is coming to the end of their contract.
Whether it's Kylian Mbappe or Phil Jones, these players will be available for you to approach at the start of the year in which their contract expires.
For instance, Kylian Mbappe's contract expires in July 2022, meaning he can freely negotiate with other clubs as soon as 1 January 2022 arrives.
How to sign pre-contract players
Of course, if you're managing Morecambe, you aren't going to be securing Mbappe's signature, but the same applies to all players irrespective of rating/profile.
When January arrives, locate the player you wish to sign on a pre-contract and hover over the 'contract' section of their profile.
If you've done your research correctly, an 'approach to sign' option should appear in this dropdown, allowing you to enter into contract talks with the player.
Simply click the option and do your best to bring in a bargain superstar.
Who can I sign on a pre-contract?
There are a huge number of players that have expiring contracts every year, so it's worth setting up your scouts to find the very best.
If you need a little help, check out these articles for all the info on world-class players that are available for nothing: