Top 5 free agents to look for in FM23

When looking for new signings in Football Manager you don't always have an unlimited budget at your disposal. Here is where the free agents come into play! For these players you won't need to pay a transfer fee or negotiate with clubs. You will directly communicate with the player and his agent and will only have to pay (sometimes large) sign on fee.

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FM23 Free Agents

Based on our very own FMInside Transfer Update for FM22 we look ahead to the possible free agents you will be able to sign in Football Manager 2023. Our update is widely regarded as one of the best transfer updates and our update has been completely updated up to October 1st and this should show a possible FM23 starting database (even though the database has not been put into lockdown yet).

Disclaimer: We would like to emphasise that the players and screens are taken from FM22 and could therefore be very different from the ones you will see in FM23.

1. Daniel Carrico

Add an experienced central defender to your team by signing Daniel Carrico on a free transfer. The now 34-year-old will add tons of experience to your team and he could be leading your defense. Despite Carrico nearing the end of his career, he still has enough qualities to play for a club in one of the bigger leagues in Europe.

2. Mateo Musacchio

Former Argentinian international who has been without a club for at least 12 months. He has enjoyed spells at Villarreal, AC Milan and Lazio before becoming a free agent in 2021. The now 32-year-old has some very good defensive qualities and could be one of your two centeal defenders in FM23.

3. Saphir Taider

Algerian international Saphir Taider has enjoyed an awesome career, playing for clubs like Internazionale, Southampton Sassuolo and FC Montreal. From 2020 he played for Saudia Arabian club AL-Ain, who decided not to extend his contrat beyond the summer of 2022. Taider is an experienced central midfielder who has some good mental and physical attributes. He could be a rotation player for a club in a top 10 league in FM23.

4. Faouzi Ghoulam

Former Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam is available on a free transfer since this summer. The now 31-year-old also is an Algerian international and he will bring some physique to your squad in FM23. He isn't a speedy or technical defender,  but will add some strength and balance to your left flank. In FM23 he could ask for around 70 - 80k a week in wages, which isn't too high and acceptable for several smaller clubs in the top 10 European leagues.

5. Salif Sané

To close our top five we present you with another central defender and this time it is powerhouse defender Salif Sané. The 32-year-old is an experienced centre-back who has played for Girondins Bordeaux, Nancy, Hannover 96 and Schalke 04. He has been a free agent since the summer but it is expected he will not be without a club for long in FM23. With over 150 games in the Bundesliga and over 70 games in the Ligue 1 Sane has a proven track record and should be on your shortlist in FM23!

Notable free agents in FM23

While we can't put every player on our list, we have also compiled a list with other players who might be available on a free transfer in FM23. The players on the notable list all have a current ability that is high enough to allow them to play on the highest level in any of the top 10 leagues in Football Manager.