As the saying goes, the best things in life are free. That certainly applies in this instance. There’s nothing quite like capturing a budding player who has been released by a former club or has failed to renew their contract.
Perhaps picking up an experienced professional for lower league saves to add a bit of quality or maybe even to mentor the younger squad members. Getting a deal done for free makes the deal just that bit sweeter.
Here you will find the best free agents FM23 has to offer and there will also be a table at the bottom with a whole host of additional options all available for free.
1. Santiago Arias (138 CA/144 PA)
Age: 30
Position: D/WB R
Wage Expectation: £33.5k-£42.5k
Expected Level: Top Division sides, some Second Tier sides
After spending the last two seasons out on loan, first with Bundesliga outfit Bayer 04 Leverkusen and then with Granada, Santiago Arias was deemed surplus to requirements at Atlético De Madrid.
The Colombian right-back has experience and there is competition for his signature from the off with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Brighton looking to entice him so act fast to beat them to the punch.
The 30-year-old’s wages may be a stumbling block for some but if you have the budget, it’s worth the risk even for a short-term fix.
2. Mateo Musacchio (135 CA/150 PA)
Age: 31
Position: DC
Wage Expectation: £42k-£53k
Expected Level: Top Division sides, some Second Tier sides
The Argentinian joined Lazio from Serie A rivals AC Milan on an initial six-month deal with clauses if met would see him offered a longer contract. Having not impressed Le Aquile, only making a meagre four appearances 5 appearances and picking up two yellow cards, Lazio decided to not extend his deal.
The centre back still has some impressive stats and will provide cover as he is happy to be used in rotation but could be great for a side chasing promotion or looking to strengthen at the back in a side battling against the drop.
3. Nemanja Radoja (128 CA/145 PA)
Age: 29
Position: DM, MC
Wage Expectation: £24.5k-£31k
Expected Level: Top Division sides, some Second Tier sides
The former Levante defensive midfielder played 20 games for the Spanish outfit last season and is a solid option for second-tier sides but could be a very handy backup for top-tier sides. At 29 years old he still has a couple of years on his side and has some solid attributes.
There is a lot of interest in Radoja from the start of the game so he is another player to scoop up early as the Serbian won’t be without a club for long.
4. Fernando Llorente (128 CA/165 PA)
Age: 37
Position: ST
Wage Expectation: £30k-£37k
Expected Level: Second or Third Tier sides
At 37 years old, the World Cup winner spent his last campaign in Spain at Eibar where he made 22 first team appearances only finding the net on two occasions. The Spanish striker could be a temporary fix for a squad struggling up front but won’t have the stamina to be a regular fixture for years to come.
He does, however, have the ability to grab your side some goals and has a vast experience to share with younger members of your club.
5. Saphir Taïder (134 CA/144 PA)
Algerian midfielder Saphir Taïder was part of the Al-Ain FC side in Saudi Arabia for the 20/21 season but has since been without a club. The 30-year-old has been somewhat of a journeyman playing in France, Italy, England, USA before his stint in Saudi Arabia.
Taïder has some great attributes to work with and would be a decent option for teams battling relegation from the top division or charging for promotion to the top flight.
6. Nikola Maksimović (123 CA/147 PA)
Age: 30
Position: DC
Wage Expectation: £19.25k-£23.5k
Expected Level: Top Tier side or Second Tier
Most recognised in Italy for his exploits in Serie A for Torino, Napoli and most recently with Genoa, the 30-year-old Nikola Maksimović is still a very capable defender and had in the past drawn comparisons to that of fellow Serbian and Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic for his no-nonsense style of play.
He could be very useful to a second-tier side with his vast experience but has the stats to compete for a rotation spot in a top tier side.
7. Giovani Dos Santos (119 CA/150 PA)
Age: 33
Position: AM, RLC, FC
Wage Expectation: £19.25k-£23.5k
Expected Level: Second or Third Tier
Former La Masia graduate Giovani Dos Santos is another well-travelled player. The attacking midfielder has played for nine different clubs in six different countries which are impressive.
He could make for a vital experience in a young talented squad or be an impact substitute to come on and save the day but would not see him as a regular starter partly due to him being in the twilight of his career and that 9 Stamina won’t help either.
The 33-year-old is versatile and can play in numerous positions which is advantageous, especially for cover.
In the table below you will find a list of all the Best Free Agents in FM23:
| Name | Age | Position | CA | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Arias | 30 | D/WB R | 138 | 144 |
| Mateo Musacchio | 31 | DC | 135 | 150 |
| Nemanja Radoja | 29 | DM, MC | 128 | 145 |
| Fernando Llorente | 37 | ST | 128 | 165 |
| Saphir Taïder | 30 | DM, MC | 134 | 144 |
| Nikola Maksimović | 30 | DC | 123 | 147 |
| Giovani Dos Santos | 33 | AM, RLC, FC | 119 | 150 |
| Salif Sané | 31 | DC, DM | 125 | 140 |
| Gary Cahill | 36 | DC | 122 | 155 |
| Graziano Pellè | 36 | ST | 122 | 140 |
| Jetro Willems | 28 | D/ WBL | 122 | 140 |
| Nicolai Jørgensen | 31 | AM L, ST | 119 | 140 |
| Jordon Mutch | 30 | AM C | 117 | 144 |
| Javier Belman | 23 | GK | 115 | 144 |
| Han Kwang-Song | 23 | ST | 115 | 141 |
In the table above there are some free agents who could bolster your squad but be quick, they won’t be free for long.
For more FM-related content, check out this article on Football Manager 2023 transfer budgets.
Also check out: Football Manager 2023 data analysts guide