20 Star Names Who Are Available on Free Transfers Right Now

Does your team need an injection of new blood even though the transfer window has closed?

Players who are currently without a club and were not registered with a team when the previous window closed are free to move, so there are bound to be clubs keeping track of the various free agents.

The majority of the listed players' best days are behind them, but given plenty of them have been transferred for millions of pounds in the past, there might well be a bargain or two on offer.

Kevin Nolan

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At his best: Kevin Nolan was a free-scoring midfielder for Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United, and he was often knocking on the door of the England national team and frequently captained his sides.

Now he is: Looking for a club after leaving the Hammers by mutual consent. At 33, he might just have to wait until long-term fan Sam Allardyce gets another job in management.

Ron Vlaar

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At his best: "Concrete" Ron Vlaar was the rock at the back for Aston Villa and the Netherlands who enjoyed a terrific World Cup in Brazil in 2014 as the central cog in Louis van Gaal's three-man central defence.

Now he is: Recovering from the serious knee injury that probably prevented him from making a lucrative Bosman free transfer this summer. With plenty of Premier League clubs in need of defensive reinforcements and Vlaar still just 30, it'll be interesting to see where he winds up once he's fit again.

McDonald Mariga

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At his best: McDonald Mariga was a highly rated Kenyan defensive midfielder who starred for Parma in Serie A and earned a big money move to Inter Milan in February 2010 that was described as "the best thing which could have happened" to the club in that transfer window by then-president Massimo Moratti, relayed by ESPN FC. He was an unused substitute in the 2010 Champions League final.

Now he is: Linked with a move to younger brother Victor Wanyama's club Southampton by the Daily Mirror in 2013, the 28-year-old went back to Parma last season, playing nine times in Serie A before the club imploded.

Khalid Boulahrouz

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At his best: Khalid Boulahrouz was a highly rated defender who earned an £8.5 million move from Hamburg to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in 2006. Distinctively wearing the No. 9 shirt at Stamford Bridge, the centre-back never truly settled in England because of a combination of poor form and injuries, but he was still able to move to clubs such as Sevilla, Stuttgart, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Brondby and Feyenoord.

Now he is: Aged 33 but perhaps chasing one final move in a career that featured 35 caps for the Netherlands.

Urby Emanuelson

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At his best: Urby Emanuelson was flying down the left flank for Ajax and being a part of the Netherlands team that won the European Under-21 Championship in 2006. He earned 16 caps for the senior team and transferred to AC Milan in 2011 before later moves to Fulham, Roma and Atalanta. Emanuelson's last senior goal was for Fulham against Swansea City on the final day of the 2012/13 season.

Now he is: Without a club after helping Atalanta steer clear of Serie A relegation last season. He turned 29 in the summer.

Juan Valera

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At his best: Juan Valera won the Europa League with Atletico Madrid in 2010, playing seven matches in the competition that season. He was later a sturdy utility man on the right flank as Getafe established themselves in La Liga over the past four seasons.

Now he is: A 30-year-old without a club following the expiration of his Getafe contract in the summer.

Derek Boateng

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At his best: Derek Boateng was playing in midfield for Ghana at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as well as embarking on a nomadic career in Europe, which included spells in Greece, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and England.

Now he is: Without a club after leaving Eibar following one season with them in La Liga.

Lionel Scaloni

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At his best: Lionel Scaloni played over 200 times for Deportivo La Coruna, with whom he won a shock Primera Division title in 2000, as well as winning seven Argentina caps and playing at the 2006 World Cup. Scaloni reached the FA Cup final with West Ham in 2006 and forced the Jamie Carragher own goal that gave them the lead against eventual winners Liverpool. He later had spells at Racing Santander, Lazio, Mallorca and Atalanta.

Now he is: Without a club after an injury-plagued few years. Now aged 37, he has yet to confirm his retirement.

Mounir El Hamdaoui

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At his best: Mounir El Hamdaoui was outscoring Luis Suarez to finish as the top scorer in the Netherlands and win the Player of the Year award as he led Louis van Gaal's AZ Alkmaar to Eredivisie glory in 2008/09. He moved to Ajax in 2010, but after one season there he fell out with coach Frank de Boer and was exiled from the team. El Hamdaoui moved to Fiorentina and also had a loan spell at Malaga.

Now he is: A 31-year-old free agent waiting on his next move.

Emmanuel Adebayor

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At his best: Emmanuel Adebayor scored 30 goals for Arsenal in the 2007/08 season, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year in the process. The Togolese forward then made a controversial £25 million move to Manchester City in 2009 before a loan move to Real Madrid and then four seasons with Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 41 goals for Spurs along the way.

Now he is: Released from Spurs after the transfer window closed having failed to agree a move away from the club this summer, the forward is plotting his next move and is sure to have at least one willing taker.

Joris Mathijsen

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At his best: Joris Mathijsen was winning 84 caps for the Netherlands, the joint-13th-highest total of all time, and playing at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. At club level, he represented Willem II, AZ Alkmaar, Hamburg, Malaga and Feyenoord, whom he left this summer.

Now he is: At 35 and not the quickest, there doesn't seem to be much interest in the centre-back, who might soon announce his retirement.

Florent Sinama Pongolle

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At his best: Florent Sinama Pongolle was an unsung hero in Liverpool's 2005 Champions League triumph, coming on as a substitute in the crucial group-stage match against Olympiacos and scoring the goal that kick-started a comeback. Sinama Pongolle earned one cap for France and also played for clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP and Chicago Fire, but injuries dogged his career.

Now he is: Fresh from cancelling his newly signed contract with Swiss club Lausanne-Sport after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury, Sinama Pongolle will be 31 in October and must be hoping the injury doesn't threaten his career.

Ricardo Vaz Te

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At his best: Ricardo Vaz Te was something of a super-sub for Bolton Wanderers and West Ham in England. Vaz Te played in the UEFA Cup for the former and was a key figure in the latter's 2011/12 promotion to the Premier League, scoring 10 goals in 15 league games, including the winner in the Playoff final after joining from Barnsley the previous January.

Now he is: Looking for a new club at the age of 28 after his six-month deal with Turkish club Akhisar Belediyespor expired in the summer.

John Utaka

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At his best he was: John Utaka was playing in World Cups for Nigeria and scoring goals in Ligue 1 for Lens and Rennes before making a £7 million move to Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth in 2007. He won the FA Cup with the south coast club, providing the assist for Nwankwo Kanu to score the winner in the 2008 final against Cardiff City at Wembley. 

Now he is: Without a club after being released from Turkish club Sivasspor, whom he joined after helping Montpellier win an unlikely French title in 2012.

Joan Capdevila

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At his best he was: Joan Capdevila was winning the European Championship and World Cup with Spain in 2008 and 2010 respectively, during which time he played for Villarreal following a successful stint at Deportivo La Coruna. Further moves to Benfica, Espanyol, Indian side NorthEast United and Belgian club Lierse followed.

Now he is: Without a club at the age of 37 but at least able to look at his medal collection and smile.

Christian Poulsen

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At his best: Christian Poulsen was a mainstay of the Denmark midfield, winning 92 caps. He also performed for storied clubs such as Schalke, Sevilla, Juventus, Liverpool and Ajax—although it's best not to dwell on his time under Roy Hodgson at Anfield. Poulsen won three league titles during his career, as well as the Europa League with Sevilla.

Now he is: Not officially retired but edging closer to it after a season back at former club Copenhagen in his homeland.

Jermaine Pennant

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At his best he was: Jermaine Pennant was playing on the right wing for Liverpool as the Reds reached the Champions League final at the end of his first season with the club in 2007, when he scored a memorable first goal for the club in a win over Chelsea. Quick and direct, consistency was always Pennant's problem, and the former Arsenal youngster went on to have spells with Portsmouth, Real Zaragoza and Stoke City among others.

Now he is: Without a club after turning down Wigan Athletic's offer to extend the deal he signed with them last season. Now 32, the offers aren't exactly flooding in.

Julien Faubert

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At his best he was: Julien Faubert was impressing for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 before heading for England in a £6.1 million move to West Ham in the summer of 2007. Injury curtailed his progress with the Hammers, but it didn't prevent a bizarre loan move to Real Madrid in 2009, though he played just two games for the Spanish club. Back at West Ham, Faubert played in all but five of the club's Premier League games in the 2009/10 season.

Now he is: Fresh from leaving Bordeaux in the summer, the 32-year-old is seeking the next chapter in a varied career. It's safe to say Real Madrid won't come calling again.

Nikola Zigic

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At his best he was: Nikola Zigic was scoring the goals at Red Star Belgrade that took him to Racing Santander and then Valencia in La Liga before making a £6 million move to Birmingham City in 2010. The giant Serbian, who has 57 caps for his country, scored in Birmingham's shock League Cup final victory over Arsenal in 2011. Despite their relegation that year, Zigic hung around at Birmingham until the end of last season.

Now he is: Without a club at the age of 35, with injury problems limiting his chances of finding a team.

Olivier Kapo

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At his best he was: Olivier Kapo was part of the exciting Auxerre team of the early 2000s, winning nine caps for France and earning moves to both Juventus and Monaco. Winger Kapo then embarked on a career in England, playing for Birmingham and Wigan before playing all around the globe, including for a spell back at Auxerre.

Now he is: Clubless after leaving Polish side Korona Kielce in the summer.

All players are listed as "without contract" on Transfermarkt at the time of writing.