Ranking the 20 Best Premier League Players Available on Free Transfers
This slideshow ranks the 20 best players who were on the squad list of a Premier League club in 2014-15 and are available on a free transfer this summer.
These 20 players will be subjectively ranked via a combination of current playing ability and upside.
Explaining Notable Omissions
James Wilson, 19, Manchester United
James Wilson does not have the right to a free transfer because his contract ends in 2017, per tweets from James Ducker at the Times and Paul Hirst at Press Association Sport.
Damian Martinez, 22, Arsenal
Granted, goalkeeper Damian Martinez is a peripheral figure at Arsenal. However, the club won't be relinquishing him on a free transfer.
Last October, Martinez discussed how Arsenal had extended his contract.
"[Arsenal] must be happy with how I got on," Martinez said, per Andres Garavaglia at Sky Sports. "They have renewed my contract for another four years."
Jonathan Walters, 31, Stoke City
In an interview with the Stoke Sentinel (h/t the Irish Times) last August, Jonathan Walters revealed that he had two years left on his contract.
That means he is a free agent in 2016 rather than 2015.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.
20. Wilson Palacios (Free Agent)
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Honduran defensive midfielder Wilson Palacios, 30, has already begun to look for a new club after Stoke City gave him the tap on the shoulder.
He accumulated 128 tackles in 33 Premier League games for Tottenham Hotspur during the 2009-10 season.
Since then, he has totalled 105 tackles in 59 Premier League games.
What made him so invaluable was his tenacity and willingness to put his body on the line.
Declined defensive productivity and long-term questions surrounding his fitness are valid concerns potential suitors will have.
19. Nene (Free Agent)
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Brazilian attacking midfielder Nene, 33, is moving on from West Ham United.
"My goal is to play at least three more seasons at the top level and for that reason I need to go to another club," Nene said, per West Ham United's website. "I thank the fans for their permanent support and wish the best success to my team-mates and West Ham United."
Nene was once one of the best footballers in the world. He scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists in 35 Ligue 1 games for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2011-12 season.
He was an astonishingly creative passer, he glided past tackles and was a constant scoring threat.
If he wanted to feature at the "top level" for "at least three more seasons," why did he go to play for Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League?
He has no one to blame but himself because he traded away the intensity of European football for easy money.
He played 128 minutes over eight Premier League games for West Ham United.
18. Jonas Gutierrez (Free Agent)
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Argentinian utility player Jonas Gutierrez, 31, was grossly mistreated by Newcastle United.
He was at the club for seven seasons and stayed when Newcastle were relegated to the Championship and helped the club gain promotion back to the Premier League.
Gutierrez overcame cancer while also having to deal with Newcastle United's politicking, per Canal+ (h/t Neil Cameron at the Evening Chronicle), and he came up big when the Magpies needed him the most, scoring and creating a goal in the 2-0 final-day win over West Ham United.
What does Jonas get for his loyalty? Ask Ryan Taylor, who was also released by Newcastle.
"John Carver rang me and told me the club were not going to offer me a new deal," Taylor said, per Sky Sports. "I had a chat, and then he asked me to pass the phone to Jonas. It was unbelievable."
Taylor clarified that Carver was being forced to make the call, and the way he spoke suggested he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Though Carver is not a Premier League-standard manager, he isn't the problem.
The problem is Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, who is content with nothingness for the club.
17. Brede Hangeland (Crystal Palace)
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Crystal Palace centre-back Brede Hangeland, 33, is in limbo.
"It's a case of if they want me to stay and then we'll chat. There have been no discussions," Hangeland said, per Mark Ritson at the Croydon Advertiser. "There has been a little bit of contact with my agent and the club, but I have stayed out of it as much as possible."
Backing up Damien Delaney and Scott Dann, Hangeland has been an intermittent starter this season.
He only featured in 14 Premier League games in 2014-15, and he spent the latter part of the campaign on the bench.
16. Carlton Cole (Free Agent)
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English centre-forward Carlton Cole, 31, showed his class with his reaction to being released by West Ham United for the second time in his career:
"I wish West Ham United all the best and I will look out for their progress in the future. Thanks for a great [nine] years. It's been emotional.
Thank you Mr. Chairman [David Gold], it's been [an] honour playing for the club.
Looking forward to my next adventure ...
"
Even though Cole is now just another big body and a squad player at Premier League level, he still outscored Mario Balotelli in the Premier League.
Cole should consider taking his talents abroad, perhaps playing in Major League Soccer, where he will be given more leeway to express himself.
15. Wes Brown (Sunderland)
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Sunderland centre-back Wes Brown, 35, may need to find a new club.
Brown "seems unlikely to stay" at Sunderland, with the club willing to let him leave on a free transfer, per Stuart Rayner at the Evening Chronicle.
He provides veteran leadership and can mentor up-and-coming defenders.
Those are two reasons why Brown could still end up on the squad list of a Premier League club next season, even if Sunderland release him.
14. Didier Drogba (Free Agent)
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Ivorian centre-forward Didier Drogba, 37, will be open to all offers as a free agent, even if his first perception to a suitor is a negative one.
Why?
He was kicking and screaming when Marseille approved his transfer to Chelsea in 2004.
"It's hard to understand because most of all, people see the financial side, or even the sporting side. But I simply wasn't happy," Drogba said, per BBC Sport. "I was praying [Chelsea] would find a problem with my knee, or a problem with anything so the move would collapse."
Drogba was a late bloomer who only made it because he had a winning attitude.
He was on his way to Chelsea, a club aspiring to be champions rather than being champions. That is why he was so depressed when he showed up in west London.
Living up to his Special One moniker, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho put his arm around Drogba and reassured him that he made the right decision, per Simon Kuper at the Financial Times: "You have never won anything; I have just won the Champions League with Porto."
13. Youssouf Mulumbu (Free Agent)
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Congolese central midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, 28, went past his expiry date at West Bromwich Albion.
Mulumbu remains grateful to West Bromwich Albion.
"[Paris Saint-Germain] was the academy for me, where I became a professional. But [West Brom] gave me everything. They gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level," Mulumbu said, per Bill Howell at the Birmingham Mail. "I will never forget my time here."
Mulumbu played 900 minutes over 17 Premier League games this season.
At his best, he is a midfield destroyer who can take the ball past opposing players.
12. Glen Johnson (Free Agent)
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English right-back Glen Johnson, 30, thanked those "who genuinely supported" him during his six seasons at Liverpool. He ended the tweet with the hashtag: "#NewChapter."
Liverpool were open to extending Johnson's expiring contract but wanted him to take a substantial pay cut, per Sami Mokbel at the Daily Mail.
Johnson wanted a change. Given how Dani Alves has resurrected his career, it is possible that Johnson can rekindle the form that saw Liverpool shell out £17.5 million for him back in 2009.
11. Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
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Aston Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar, 30, is a good defender when he's fit.
The problem with Aston Villa possibly extending his contract is he could spend a segment of the campaign injured, which would be wasted money and leave a hole in their starting XI.
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood believes Vlaar will eventually agree to an extension.
"I've actually sat down with Ron and I've told him I want him to stay, and he says he wants to stay," Sherwood said, per Stuart James at the Guardian. "Obviously Ron is going to have a lot of options [as] he's a free transfer [for potential suitors]."
Vlaar played 20 Premier League games this season.
10. Joey Barton (Free Agent)
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English central midfielder Joey Barton, 32, was released by Queens Park Rangers after the Hoops were relegated from the Premier League.
Barton has been replaced by Massimo Luongo, whose career is on the rise and who is 10 years younger.
That said, Barton played ferociously, was an ambitious passer and demanded the ball under duress.
He is a Premier League-standard footballer, so unless his wages are too high, he should receive offers to stay in England's top flight.
9. Jason Davidson (Free Agent)
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Australian left-back Jason Davidson, 23, could be a useful player for mid-table/relegation-candidate top-flight clubs.
He was never given an extended starting run by West Bromwich Albion and is allowed to leave on a free transfer.
"Sometimes coaches love you and sometimes you don't fit their style and you have to respect that and we mutually agreed to move on," Davidson said, per Bill Howell at the Birmingham Mail. "There are four clubs in Europe that I am in negotiations with and the most important thing is not to rush into anything."
Perhaps Davidson is not suited to Premier League football.
It wasn't a fit for Borja Valero, who went on to achieve bigger and better things post-West Brom.
It could be the same for Davidson.
8. Darren Bent (Aston Villa)
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English centre-forward Darren Bent, 31, shrugged off his Aston Villa exile by performing well on loan at Derby County.
Bent scored 10 goals, including five goals in a four-game run, and provided three assists in 15 Championship games.
Derby County are hopeful Bent chooses them when he decides to exercise his Bosman right to a free transfer, per Mat Kendrick at the Birmingham Mail.
7. John Guidetti (Manchester City)
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Manchester City centre-forward John Guidetti, 23, hasn't been the same since a debilitating illness.
"I ate a bit of chicken at my girlfriend's birthday party, but it led to food poisoning. It got worse when the illness led to a rare virus which badly affected my nervous system," Guidetti said, per Simon Mullock at the Daily Mirror. "One minute I was in heaven, the next in hell."
Guidetti went from being one of Europe's most talented No. 9 prospects to facing an uncertain future.
On loan at Celtic, he scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in 35 games in all competitions.
Serviceable numbers—but not Henrik Larsson-like dominance.
Playing top-flight football is an achievement in itself, but his leaving Manchester City would be ideal for his career.
Guidetti now has that chance as he runs down his expiring Manchester City contract.
6. Luke Garbutt (Everton)
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Everton left-back Luke Garbutt, 22, is poised to become a free agent, not because he won't receive a new contract but because he is unwilling to earn an easy paycheque to be a backup.
Showing ambition and venturing outside his comfort zone will put Garbutt in good stead.
Garbutt is seen as the heir apparent to Leighton Baines, though Everton manager Roberto Martinez has yet to make the permanent change.
"We really want [Garbutt] to stay but I can understand he can feel that having [Baines], the number three for England, ahead of him will make it difficult for him to play," Martinez said, per David Prentice at the Liverpool Echo. "It is no good to keep a player who is not happy [as] part of the squad."
5. Gael Kakuta (Chelsea)
16 of 20Chelsea attacking midfielder Gael Kakuta, 23, spent the past season on loan at Rayo Vallecano.
He scored five goals and provided seven assists in 35 games in La Liga. The Frenchman sporadically looked like the star many scouts projected he would become.
He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea in December 2010, so unless the Blues exercised an undisclosed one-year option, he has the right to a free transfer this summer.
Kakuta proved he is Primera Liga quality, so he should look to sign permanently with a top-flight Spanish club.
4. Tom Cleverley (Manchester United)
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Manchester United central midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25, may have been deemed expendable at Old Trafford, but he has looked classy on loan at Aston Villa.
He controlled the tempo of his team's possession in 2014-15, completing 86.2 per cent of his 45.6 passes per game. He also chipped in with three goals in the Premier League.
When he plays in an environment where he is not subjected to habitual hate, he is not as useless as the critics make him out to be.
He is expected to exercise his Bosman right to a free transfer and move to Everton this summer, per Mike Whalley at ESPN FC.
3. Esteban Cambiasso (Leicester City)
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Leicester City central midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, 34, is unfazed by adversity.
He was counted out at Real Madrid and went on to win five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League at Inter Milan.
Perceived to be over the hill, Cambiasso mounted a valiant comeback at Leicester City, where he played with the enthusiasm of a teenager.
It is imperative Leicester City renew Cambiasso's expiring contract.
2. Micah Richards (Manchester City)
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English defender Micah Richards, 26, received an offer from Manchester City to extend his expiring contract.
"I can't sign for another few years [to be a substitute]," Richards said, per Matt Lawton at the Daily Mail. "I know they need to meet their quota of English players, but for my career I felt I had to move on."
Richards has analysed the situation and knows he would be doing himself a disservice if he collects an easy paycheque by being a squad-filler at Manchester City.
Given his proactive attitude and willingness to try new things—he spent 2014-15 in Serie A on loan at FiorentinaRichards still has time to live up to expectations.
1. Danny Ings (Burnley)
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Burnley centre-forward Danny Ings, 22, could drop down to the Championship and better his 2013-14 goal tally of 21.
While Ings will be signed via the Bosman ruling, his new club will need to pay a hefty seven- or eight-figure tribunal fee, per Chris Wheeler at the Daily Mail.
Having scored 11 goals in the Premier League for relegated Burnley, Ings would dominate at a lower level.
The striker is expected to announce his plans before the European Under-21 Championship, which commences on June 17, per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC.
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