The best free agents to sign on Football Manager 2023 | OneFootball

One of the first things any new boss on Football Manager 2023 should do is head to the free agent market.

While finding an elite talent without spending a penny is never going to be easy, there are plenty of serviceable players available to bolster out your squad or provide a much-needed boost to a smaller team.

Here are some of the best available in every position.

Goalkeeper

Fabricio

Most recently on the books at Fulham, veteran stopper Fabricio is a solid goalkeeper who could help out a mid-table team immediately.

Keiren Westwood

37-year-old Westwood is on the lookout for a new club. His days at the top level may be behind him but he's a reliable option for a smaller side.

Javier Belman

23-year-old Belman is a graduate of the Real Madrid academy and boasts some nice goalkeeping stats, including 15 for Command of Area and Kicking.

Right-back

Santiago Arias

After four injury-hit years with Atletico Madrid, Santiago Arias is on the market. At 30 years old, he's got a few years left in him.

Adriano

Now 37, former Barcelona man Adriano is ready to join a new team. He's capable on either flank so offers some nice squad depth.

Ahmed Elmohamady

If you're a smaller team looking for some veteran help, Ahmed Elmohamady is your man. He's happy as a full-back, wing-back or even as a traditional right midfielder.

Centre-back

Nikola Maksimovic

Maksimovic is a really nice pick-up. The 30-year-old has plenty of high-level experience and some nice stats to suite plenty of different roles.

Mateo Musacchio

One year older than Maksimovic, Musacchio is just as useful to any side. He won't be an elite starter but as far as free transfers go, you won't find much better.

Edgar Ie

Ie is a centre-back by trade but happy to head out to right-back if you need.

Left-back

Danny Rose

Still only 31 years old, former England international Rose has struggled in recent years and is now looking for a fresh start after his departure from Watford.

Jetro Willems

Injuries haven't been kind to Willems in recent years but the 28-year-old would still make a smart pick-up.

Faouzi Ghoulam

Another with a lengthy spell in the treatment room to his name, it wasn't too long ago that Ghoulam was being touted as one of the more intriguing left-backs in world football.

Defensive midfielder

Nemanja Radoja

An excellent option for the Defensive Midfielder role, Radoja has just left Levante but won't struggle to find another top-tier team to join.

Karim El Ahmadi

Now 37, El Ahmadi is one of the older options available but he's got some sublime stats to make him the ideal short-term option.

Saphir Taider

Formerly of Inter, 30-year-old Taider is a solid option who also doubles as a penalty specialist.

Central midfielder

Danny Drinkwater

Drinkwater's Chelsea nightmare is over and he's now ready to start over again with a smaller side. He has some nice, well-rounded stats to compliment any team.

Mousa Dembele

Dembele is retiring at the end of 2022 but will still join a new team for the next six months. Obviously not an ideal scenario but the 34-year-old is good enough to go out with a bang.

Filipe Augusto

16 passing for 28-year-old Augusto, who looks like a smart signing for any team in need of some creativity.

Attacking midfielders

Gaston Ramirez

More of a creator than a goalscorer, Ramirez has 14s across the board and looks like a solid signing.

Giovani dos Santos

Dos Santos has some excellent stats. 17 technique, 17 flair and 16 first touch, to go with 14 passing, would make the Mexican a useful acquisition.

Mbark Boussoufa

A Premier League homegrown talent from his time with Chelsea, Boussoufa is now 37 but has good stats in all the important areas.

Right wing

Fabio Martins

Comfortable on both wings but extremely right-footed, Martins has 17 flair, 16 agility and 16 dribbling.

Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez

You can play Carcela-Gonzalez anywhere around a striker. He's another whose stats are ideal for any team needing a new forward.

Roland Lamah

Former Belgian international Lamah has good pace, dribbling and crossing stats, so he could be an explosive option off the bench.

Striker

Simone Zaza

Zaza brings some excellent mental stats and respectable physical attributes for a 31-year-old.

Wilfried Bony

Bony left the Eredivisie last summer and is on the lookout for a new team to benefit from his 15 finishing.

Fernando Llorente

Towering target man Llorente is still a bully of a striker, with 16 strength and 18 heading proving where his skills lie.

Left wing

Ricardo Quaresma

Quaresma's physical stats are gone but the 38-year-old is one of the most technically gifted players on the entire game. If you can figure out how to maximise him, he could still be a star.

Paul-Jose Mpoku

An all-round talent, Mpoku is even comfortable bringing his 15 passing to central midfield.

Brazil native Fernandinho has good stats almost everywhere you'd want your winger to. He's fast and an excellent dribbler, with a keen eye for a long shot.