EA FCEA FC 25 Career Mode is all about building the strongest team possible, but clubs without a lot of funds should look at free agents and contract expiry players to keep costs down.
Before a player’s contract expires in FC 25’s Career Mode, managers can sign them on a free transfer during the final year. This means that the club often won’t have to pay a transfer fee to acquire the player, or they’ll be able to sign them at a reduced price.
There are also those without a club at all, who can be picked up right away as long as you can agree on their wages and bonuses.
Here are our recommendations for the best free agents and contract expiry players to sign in FC 25 Career Mode.
Goalkeepers
First season
| Player | Club | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Acevedo | None | 77 | Free Agent |
| Munir | None | 75 | Free Agent |
| Wayne Hennessey | None | 71 | Free Agent |
Second season
| Player | Club | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| David De Gea | Fiorentina | 84 | Contract Expiry |
| Andriy Lunin | Real Madrid | 81 | Contract Expiry |
| Walter Benitez | PSV | 80 | Contract Expiry |
| Kepa Arizzabalaga | Chelsea (On Loan at Bournemouth) | 79 | Contract Expiry |
Top picks
It’s fairly slim pickings when it comes to free agent goalkeepers in EA FC 25, but there are several decent options you might be able to get a reduced price on. David De Gea, in particular, stands out after he returned to football on a one-year contract at Fiorentina.
Real Madrid’s young stopper Andriy Lunin is also in the final year of his deal after the Ukrainian has struggled for game time ahead of Thibaut Courtois.
EA SPORTS / DexertoDefenders
First season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romain Saiss | None | CB | 78 | Free Agent |
| Cesar Montes | None | CB | 74 | Free Agent |
| Isreal Reyes | None | CB | 74 | Free Agent |
| Ivan Perisic | None | LB | 76 | Free Agent |
| Gerardo Arteaga | None | LB | 74 | Free Agent |
| Yahya Attiat-Allah | None | LB | 73 | Free Agent |
| Jorge Sanchez | None | RB | 73 | Free Agent |
| Brian Garcia | None | RB | 72 | Free Agent |
Second season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Van Dijk | Liverpool | CB | 89 | Contract Expiry |
| Jonathan Tah | Bayer Leverkusen | CB | 86 | Contract Expiry |
| Jose Gimenez | Atletico Madrid | CB | 83 | Contract Expiry |
| Odilon Kossounou | Atalanta | CB | 81 | Contract Expiry |
| Ferland Mendy | Real Madrid | LB | 84 | Contract Expiry |
| Alphonso Davies | Bayern Munich | LB | 82 | Contract Expiry |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | RB | 86 | Contract Expiry |
| Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid | RB | 86 | Contract Expiry |
| Nelson Semedo | Wolves | RB | 78 | Contract Expiry |
Top picks
Long-time football fans will recognize a couple of the defenders who are without a club in this year’s Career Mode. Former Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic is available for free, along with ex-Wolves center-back Romain Saiss.
Elsewhere, there are some truly high-profile defenders whose contracts are expiring, such as Virgil van Dijk and Alphonso Davies. However, these are both two of the best players in their respective positions, so it might still take a hefty offer to pry them away.
EA SPORTS / DexertoMidfielders
First season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Gustafson | None | CDM | 75 | Free Agent |
| Adrian Rabiot | None | CM | 83 | Free Agent |
| Luis Chavez | None | CM | 79 | Free Agent |
| Erick Sanchez | None | CM | 78 | Free Agent |
| Carlos Rodriguez | None | CAM | 76 | Free Agent |
| Krisztofer Horvath | None | CAM | 68 | Free Agent |
Second season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | CM | 91 | Contract Expiry |
| Ilkay Gundogan | Manchester City | CM | 87 | Contract Expiry |
| Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | CM | 86 | Contract Expiry |
| Koke | Atletico Madrid | CM | 83 | Contract Expiry |
| Christian Erikson | Manchester United | CM | 78 | Contract Expiry |
| Paulo Dybala | Roma | CAM | 87 | Contract Expiry |
Top picks
If you’re looking for cover in the middle of the park, former Juventus midfielder Adrian Rabiot is one of the best free agents in FC 25 overall. At just 29 years old, he’s still got a few seasons left playing at the highest level.
Some of the world’s elite are also coming towards the end of the current deals, including Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who is still very much at the top of his game.
EA SPORTS / DexertoWingers
First season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akram Afif | None | LM | 78 | Free Agent |
| Alexis Vega | None | LW | 77 | Free Agent |
| Cesar Huerta | None | LW | 75 | Free Agent |
| Florinel Coman | None | LW | 74 | Free Agent |
| Roberto Alvarado | None | RM | 77 | Free Agent |
| Uriel Atuna | None | RM | 76 | Free Agent |
| Alejandro Zendejas | None | RM | 74 | Free Agent |
Second season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neymar Jr | Al Hilal | LW | 87 | Contract Expiry |
| Jadon Sancho | Manchester United (On loan at Chelsea) | LM | 82 | Contract Expiry |
| Timo Werner | Spurs | LM | 80 | Contract Expiry |
| Allan Saint-Maximin | Fenerbahce | LM | 80 | Contract Expiry |
| Mohammed Salah | Liverpool | RW | 89 | Contract Expiry |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | RW | 88 | Contract Expiry |
| Leroy Sane | Bayern Munich | RM | 85 | Contract Expiry |
| Amad Diallo | Manchester United | RM | 75 | Contract Expiry |
Top picks
It’s no secret that Liverpool’s Mo Salah was in contract talks for many months before eventually sighning, but given that Career Mode is based on how things were at the start of the season, you can still snap him up. The Egyptian is still likely to cost quite a lot, but be sure to move in before another club comes in and takes him.
Both Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi are also in their final year. Although both are nearing the end of their glittering careers, they still have a lot to give if you want to bring them back to Europe for their swansong years.
EA SPORTS / DexertoStrikers
First season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joselu | None | ST | 82 | Free Agent |
| Memphis Depay | None | ST | 82 | Free Agent |
| Guillermo Martinez | None | ST | 74 | Free Agent |
| Andre Ayew | None | ST | 73 | Free Agent |
Second season
| Player | Club | Position | Rating | Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heung-Min Son | Spurs | ST | 87 | Contract Expiry |
| Victor Osimhen | Napoli (On loan at Galatasaray) | ST | 87 | Contract Expiry |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | ST | 86 | Contract Expiry |
| Jonathan David | Lille | ST | 81 | Contract Expiry |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Everton | ST | 77 | Contract Expiry |
Top picks
Lastly, there are a couple of big-name strikers on the lookout for new teams. Joselu is without a club after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, while Memphis Depay‘s move to the Brazilian league in real life hasn’t been reflected in-game yet.
Spurs star Heung-min Son is coming towards the end of his seven-year contract and is available on the cheap. There’s also the option to pick up Victor Osimhen from Napoli, once his loan move at Galatasaray comes to an end.
EA SPORTS / DexertoAll of the options on the list are the perfect filler players if you’re struggling for funds but still need cover in a position.
For more on EA FC 25 Career Mode, take a look at the best young players to plan for the future, as well as the best custom tactics to run.