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Through the last several editions of FIFA, savvy Career Mode players have looked to contract expiry signings to get a top-class player for next to nothing.
In FIFA 21, landing a contract expiry signing in the traditional way has become much more challenging, as we detailed in the 2021 Contract Expiry Signings guide. Still, there’s a chance that some of these players with expiring contracts can be negotiated with for a lower price or as a free agent at the end of the second season.
READ MORE: FIFA 22 Career Mode: Best Contract Expiry Signings in 2022 (First Season) and Free Agents
Here, we’re diving straight in, running through ALL the best Career Mode FIFA 21 contract expiry signings in 2022, whose contracts expire at the end of the second season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Piemonte Calcio (92 OVR)

Best Position: ST, LW
First Season Age: 35
Wage: £195,000
Overall Rating: 92
Best Attributes: 95 Jumping, 95 Reactions, 95 Finishing
Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the best players in the world, with his tremendous athleticism carrying through his mid-30s and keeping him on top of the game.
Once again, the Portuguese superstar is off to a hot start. Playing as Juventus’ striker, Ronaldo scored three goals in the first two games of the season, but then tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty.
In FIFA 21, Ronaldo is second only to Lionel Messi in overall rating, with his 6’2’’ height, 90 heading accuracy, 95 jumping, and 95 positioning making him as much of a threat in the air as he is with the ball at his feet.
While he is 35-years-old, it’s tough to see Ronaldo’s hefty 92 OVR degrading too much over two seasons, making him one of the best contract expiry signings to target in 2022 on Career Mode.
Neymar Jr, Paris Saint-Germain (91 OVR)

Best Position: LW, CAM
First Season Age: 28
Wage: £240,000
Overall Rating: 91
Best Attributes: 96 Agility, 95 Dribbling, 95 Ball Control
Neymar Jr endured a turbulent start to the season. He missed the first game due to Covid-19, was sent off at the end of a 1-0 loss to Olympique Marseille for his part in a scuffle, and missed the next two games.
In his third game of the season, Paris Saint-Germain’s sixth, the Brazilian finally found his way onto the score sheet, scoring twice and setting up another in the 6-1 win over SC Angers.
Neymar is a favourite among FIFA 21 players, thanks to his 91 OVR, five-star weak foot, five-star skill moves, 94 acceleration, 89 sprint speed, and 96 agility.
Still in the prime of his career, there’s a chance that Neymar can become a 2022 contract expiry signing for the second season of Career Mode.
Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain (90 OVR)

Best Position: ST, LW, RW
First Season Age: 21
Wage: £140,000
Overall Rating: 90
Best Attributes: 96 Acceleration, 96 Sprint Speed, 92 Dribbling
Easily one of the most exciting young players in world football, Kylian Mbappé has already more than made up for the early segment of the season that he missed.
The World Cup winner was unable to play in the first three one-goal games for PSG, but in the next four Ligue 1 contests, Mbappé amassed four goals and four assists.
Mbappé will be one of the most sought-after potential 2022 contract expiry signings in FIFA 21. Only 21-years-old at the start of the game, he’ll be even closer to his massive 95 POT by the time the end of the second season comes around.
The Frenchman already offers a huge amount of pace and striking ability, coming in with 92 dribbling, 92 agility, 96 acceleration, 96 sprint speed, and 91 finishing.
Marc-André ter Stegen, FC Barcelona (90 OVR)

Best Position: GK
First Season Age: 28
Wage: £240,000
Overall Rating: 90
Best Attributes: 90 Goalkeeper Reflexes, 88 Goalkeeper Diving, 88 Goalkeeper Positioning
Marc-André ter Stegen enjoyed a decent 2019/20 campaign, even if it was a disappointing one for the club. In La Liga, the German only allowed 36 goals in 36 games, keeping a clean sheet in 14 matches.
This season, Ter Stegen has been unable to pick up where he left off due to injury, but the knee problems aren’t expected to keep him out for too long.
Barcelona’s shot-stopper is already one of the highest-rated goalkeepers in FIFA 21, but by the time his contract expiry is set to come around, Ter Stegen may have reached his 93 POT.
In line to become a free agent at the end of the second season of Career Mode, the 6’2’’ goalie will likely have improved on his 90 goalkeeper reflexes, 88 goalkeeper diving, and 85 goalkeeper handling.
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid (89 OVR)

Best Position: CF, ST
First Season Age: 32
Wage: £320,000
Overall Rating: 89
Best Attributes: 91 Reactions, 91 Heading Accuracy, 90 Ball Control
By scoring his first goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Levante, Karim Benzema clocked-in his 250th score for Real Madrid, reaching the milestone in 517 games.
The French centre forward continues to be a pivotal part of Zinédine Zidane’s system, working over centre backs to open spaces and passing lanes for the talented midfielders and attackers of Los Blancos.
Benzema enters FIFA 21 as the highest-rated CF, carrying an 89 OVR with 91 heading accuracy, 88 finishing, 90 positioning, and 86 short passing.
He’s 32-years-old at the start of the game, so he’ll likely see his overall rating decline a bit by the time he’s currently set to become a second season contract expiry signing.
All the best FIFA 21 contract expiry signings in 2022 (second season)
Below, you’ll find the list of all of the potential 2022 contract expiry signings, with the current contracts of these players set to run out at the end of the second season.
Name | Position | Age (2022) | Overall | Potential | Team | Value | Wage |
Cristiano Ronaldo | ST, LW | 37 | 92 | 92 | Piemonte Calcio (Juventus) | £56.5 million | £195,000 |
Neymar Jr | LW, CAM | 30 | 91 | 91 | Paris Saint-Germain | £119 million | £240,000 |
Kylian Mbappé | LW, RW | 23 | 90 | 95 | Paris Saint-Germain | £167 million | £140,000 |
Marc-André ter Stegen | GK | 30 | 90 | 93 | FC Barcelona | £99 million | £240,000 |
Karim Benzema | CF, ST | 34 | 89 | 89 | Real Madrid | £75 million | £320,000 |
Paulo Dybala | CF, CAM | 28 | 88 | 89 | Piemonte Calcio (Juventus) | £98.5 million | £170,000 |
Luis Suárez | ST | 35 | 87 | 87 | Atlético Madrid | £46 million | £100,000 |
Hugo Lloris | GK | 35 | 87 | 87 | Tottenham Hotspur | £23.5 million | £110,000 |
Carvajal | RB | 30 | 86 | 86 | Real Madrid | £55.5 million | £110,000 |
Raphaël Varane | CB | 29 | 86 | 88 | Real Madrid | £65 million | £195,000 |
Mats Hummels | CB | 33 | 86 | 86 | Borussia Dortmund | £42 million | £84,000 |
David Silva | CAM, CM | 36 | 86 | 86 | Real Sociedad | £28.5 million | £52,000 |
Gerard Piqué | CB | 35 | 86 | 86 | FC Barcelona | £29 million | £195,000 |
Alejandro Gómez | CF, ST | 34 | 86 | 86 | Atalanta | £48.5 million | £90,000 |
Lorenzo Insigne | LW, CF | 31 | 85 | 85 | SSC Napoli | £47.5 million | £105,000 |
Dries Mertens | CF, ST | 35 | 85 | 85 | SSC Napoli | £31 million | £100,000 |
André Onana | GK | 26 | 84 | 88 | Ajax | £43 million | £16,000 |
Marcelo Brozović | CDM, CM | 29 | 84 | 85 | Inter Milan | £39 million | £115,000 |
Niklas Süle | CB | 26 | 84 | 89 | Bayern Munich | £52 million | £76,000 |
Nicolás Tagliafico | LB | 29 | 84 | 84 | Ajax | £36.5 million | £24,500 |
Leon Goretzka | CM, CDM | 27 | 84 | 88 | Bayern Munich | £52.5 million | £93,000 |
Felipe | CB | 33 | 84 | 84 | Atlético Madrid | £26 million | £67,000 |
Josip Iličić | CF, ST | 34 | 84 | 84 | Atalanta | £31 million | £83,000 |
Isco | CM, LW | 30 | 84 | 84 | Real Madrid | £38 million | £190,000 |
Jesús Corona | RM, RB | 29 | 84 | 84 | FC Porto | £40.5 million | £22,500 |
Douglas Costa | RW, LW | 31 | 84 | 84 | Piemonte Calcio (Juventus) | £37.5 million | £105,000 |
Azpilicueta | RB, LB | 32 | 84 | 84 | Chelsea | £32.5 million | £105,000 |
Rui Patrício | GK | 34 | 84 | 84 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £19 million | £81,000 |
Axel Witsel | CDM, CM | 33 | 84 | 84 | Borussia Dortmund | £26.5 million | £71,000 |
Lucas Leiva | CDM | 35 | 84 | 84 | Lazio | £19 million | £74,000 |
Salvatore Sirigu | GK | 35 | 84 | 84 | Torino | £12.5 million | £48,500 |
Ousmane Dembélé | LW, RW | 25 | 83 | 89 | FC Barcelona | £51.5 million | £160,000 |
Denis Zakaria | CB, CM | 25 | 83 | 87 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | £42.5 million | £40,500 |
Thomas Strakosha | GK | 27 | 83 | 88 | Lazio | £38 million | £52,000 |
Alessio Romagnoli | CB | 27 | 83 | 87 | AC Milan | £40.5 million | £46,000 |
Marcel Sabitzer | CM, CAM | 28 | 83 | 85 | RB Leipzig | £40 million | £66,000 |
Sergi Roberto | RB, CM | 30 | 83 | 83 | FC Barcelona | £29.5 million | £160,000 |
Alexandre Lacazette | ST | 31 | 83 | 83 | Arsenal | £32.5 million | £190,000 |
Kieran Trippier | RB | 31 | 83 | 83 | Atlético Madrid | £28.5 million | £63,000 |
Fernando | CDM, CM | 34 | 83 | 83 | Sevilla FC | £22 million | £34,500 |
Yuri Berchiche | LB | 32 | 83 | 83 | Athletic Club de Bilbao | £28 million | £31,000 |
Arturo Vidal | CDM, CAM | 35 | 83 | 83 | Inter Milan | £20 million | £110,000 |
If any of these players can be grabbed at a reduced price, as a 2022 contract expiry signing, or as a free agent, they’d be worth every penny.
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