As you start your Football Manager save, you may notice that your transfer budget may not be as big as expected. This is because a transfer window has effectively already happened, with game creators Sports Interactive taking into account the business that clubs did in the summer of 2017. Therefore, you need to be a lot smarter with your money. Your best bet may be to snap up a free agent, which won’t take anything out of your transfer budget. We look at the best free players on offer in FM18.
READ: Football Manager 2019: Best free agents
A full list of ALL the free agents with a CA rating higher than 120 can be found at the bottom of this page.
What is a free agent?
A free agent is a player without a club on Football Manager 2018. Their contracts have expired, and they are now free to sign. All you have to do is agree wages and personal terms with the player to sign them for your club.
How to sign a free agent
Find the player you wish to sign and under 'Contract' click Approach to Sign.
You must then present "promises" to the player's agent to tempt them to sign for your club.
If all goes to plan, you can enter contract negotiations with the player.
Finalise the deal, and the player is yours.
Best free agents
Below are the best free agents on FM 18. Act fast however, with these players in high demand on the game.
Bacary Sagna (CA 139 – PA 160)
Age: 34
Positions: D (RC), WB (R)
Country: France
Best attributes: 17 temperament, 16 work rate, 15 composure
A highly respected defender, it will surprise many that Bacary Sagna never won a Premier League title. The right back enjoyed seven seasons at Arsenal, winning an FA Cup before making the switch to Manchester City in 2014 and going on to claim a League Cup. Sagna was released by City last season and was a free agent for six months before joining Italian side Benevento in February. The 34-year-old has a 139 current ability rating on FM, with stats of 17 temperament, 16 work rate and 15 composure.
Benoit Tremoulinas (CA 138 – PA 148)
Age: 31
Positions: D (L), WB (L)
Country: France
Best attributes: 16 natural fitness, 16 crossing, 16 teamwork
Another French international, it’s amazing to see Benoit Tremoulinas still without a club after an impressive couple of seasons at Sevilla. A knee injury ruled him out of the 2016/17 season, and that is perhaps why he hasn’t signed for a new club. 31-year-old left back Tremoulinas offers stats of 16 natural fitness, 16 crossing and 16 teamwork, giving him a CA of 138.
Jose Antonio Reyes (CA 136 – PA 164)
Age: 33
Positions: AM (RLC), M (RL)
Country: Spain
Best attributes: 18 dribbling, 18 flair, 16 creativity
Jose Antonio Reyes may have recently signed for native side Cordoba, but the former Arsenal winger is still a free agent on Football Manager 2018. The 33-year-old Spaniard was part of the Arsenal side that went unbeaten on course to the 2003-04 Premier League title and added to that with a La Liga and five Europa League titles during his time with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. 18 dribbling, 18 flair and 16 creativity give Reyes a 136 current ability score.
Emir Spahic (CA 135 – PA 151)
Age: 36
Positions: D (C), SW
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Best attributes: 18 pressure, 17 marking, 17 adaptability
With 93 caps for Bosnia, Emir Spahic comes with some pedigree. The 36-year-old was most recently with Bundesliga side Hamburg, having previously played for Bayer Leverkusen and Sevilla. If you're looking for an experienced centre back, Spahic could be your man with stats of 18 pressure, 17 marking and 17 adaptability. His current ability rating his 135, a fall of 16 from his 151 potential.
Jan Kirchhoff (CA 130 – PA 137)
Age: 26
Positions: DM, D (C), M (C)
Country: Germany
Best attributes: 18 temperament, 16 jumping, 16 sportsmanship
A player who can still improve is Jan Kirchhoff. The defensive midfielder was released by Sunderland following their relegation from the Premier League, but his trouble with injuries has meant he is yet to sign for a new club. It looks as if the former Bayern Munich man could be on his way to Bolton, which looks to be a valuable acquisition for The Trotters. Kirchhoff offers a 130 CA rising to a 137 PA and stats of 18 temperament, 16 jumping and 16 sportsmanship.
Guilherme Siqueira (CA 130 – PA 148)
Age: 31
Positions: D (L), WB (L)
Country: Brazil
Best attributes: 18 penalty taking, 16 crossing, 16 technique
A trusted defender, Guilherme Siqueira has played for some top clubs around Europe. The Brazilian earned his reputation at Granada over three years before going on to play for Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Valencia. At the age of 31, he must find a new club soon, and with a 130 current ability rating and stats of 18 penalty taking, 16 crossing and 16 technique, he's a player you must consider on FM 18.
Denilson (CA 128 – PA 151)
Age: 29
Positions: DM, M (C)
Country: Brazil
Best attributes: 18 natural fitness, 16 stamina, 15 ambition
Arsenal fans will remember Denilson from his five years at the club, but the Brazilian never quite did enough to be a regular in North London. Now 29, the defensive or central midfielder has returned from a spell at Abu Dhabi based club Al Wahda, and you would expect Denilson to re-join a club in his native Brazil. 18 natural fitness, 16 stamina and 15 ambition give Denilson a 128 current ability score, which could still improve towards a potential of 151.
Joey Barton (CA 128 – PA 145)
Age: 34
Positions: M (C), DM
Country: England
Best attributes: 18 ambition, 18 determination, 17 concentration
One of the most despised men in English football, Joey Barton is currently banned from football following a charge in relation to betting. The central midfielder won promotion to the Premier League three times and picked up one England cap in 2007, but his off the field antics have always masked his footballing ability. Barton’s ban does appear on FM 18, so he won't be able to play again until June 1, 2018. His 128 CA will have likely worsened by then, so his 18 ambition and 18 determination and 17 concentration may not be enough to sign him. But he's worth a punt!
Patrick Ebert (CA 128 – PA 141)
Age: 30
Positions: AM (RL), M (RL)
Country: Germany
Best attributes: 15 bravery, 15 free kick taking, 15 work rate
After six years at Hertha Berlin, Patrick Ebert took the risk of playing abroad. The winger had spells as Valladolid, Spartak Moscow and Rayo Vallecano, but he has recently headed back to Germany with Ingolstadt. At the age of 30, you can still get a couple of seasons out of him, so it may be worth taking a punt on his 128 CA and stats of 15 bravery, 15 free kick taking and 15 work rate.
Mathieu Flamini (CA 126 – PA 156)
Age: 33
Positions: M (C), DM
Country: France
Best attributes: 19 bravery, 18 aggression, 17 marking
A favourite among Arsenal supporters, Mathieu Flamini had two spells at the London club winning two FA Cups. The central or defensive midfielder also won a Serie A title with AC Milan, and in 2018 he joined Getafe following his release from Crystal Palace at the end of last season. On FM 18 he offers stats of 19 bravery, 18 aggression and 17 marking, giving the 33-year-old a 126 current ability score.
More Free Agents
Player | Age | Pos | Country | CA/ PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mathieu Flamini | 33 | M (C) DM | France | 126/ 156 |
Marcin Wasilewski | 37 | D (CR) | Poland | 125/ 132 |
Abou Diaby | 31 | M (C) AM (C) | France | 125/ 150 |
Didier Digard | 31 | DM M (C) | France | 125/ 145 |
Lukman Haruna | 26 | M(C) DM AM (C) | Nigeria | 125/ 140 |
Javi Garrido | 32 | D (L) WB (L) | Spain | 125/ 131 |
Mounir Obbadi | 26 | M (C) DM | Morocco | 124/ 135 |
Ashkan Dejagah | 31 | M (RL) AM (RL) | Iran | 124/ 138 |
Youssouf Mulumbu | 30 | DM M (C) | DR Congo | 123/ 150 |
Florian Marange | 31 | D (LC) WB (L) | France | 123/ 127 |
Who have you signed on Football Manager? Let us know in the comments section below.
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