The January transfer window has closed and deadline day has passed, but that doesn’t mean clubs still can’t land a useful free agent.
Raheem Sterling is one of many high-profile free agents (Image: Getty)
The January transfer window is now closed for all teams in the Premier League and EFL. However, many high-quality free agents remain without a club even after the deadline.
The Premier League has spent a total of just over £400m, with a relatively quiet window in the rear-view mirror after deadline day. Few big names have made a move in the last month, but the most notable move was probably Antoine Semenyo’s £65m move from Bournemouth to Manchester City.
Deadline day itself was similarly lackluster, with the biggest financial move of the day being the transfer of Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves to Crystal Palace for a club-record £48m. Liverpool have also signed Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet for an in-principle fee of £60m, but the move will take place in the summer.
However, a few clubs may have holes to fill after missing out on some goals, and Mirror Football brings in some free agents who are still available.
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raheem sterling
Days before the deadline, Raheem Sterling and Chelsea agreed a mutual agreement to end his contract. The former Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal winger is currently without a club.
It won’t be long before the four-time Premier League winner returns and the 31-year-old presents a sensible proposition to any team as a raw talent no longer tied to exorbitant wages. However, Premier League clubs have until February 5 to register their squad for the remainder of the season.
Sterling left Chelsea last month (Image: Getty)
kurt zouma
Former Chelsea and West Ham defender Kurt Zouma only joined Romanian club CFR Cluj in September last year. However, his contract was terminated in January and he is now a free agent.
The 31-year-old is still able to provide decent defensive cover at the highest level and was named captain by the Hammers just three years ago before falling out of first-team contention.
jesse lingard
Former England international Jesse Lingard has retreated from the spotlight following the disastrous defeat at Nottingham Forest. He joined FC Seoul in 2024 and played in South Korea for about two years, but left emotionally in December last year to pursue a new challenge.
Rumors abounded during the transfer window regarding the 33-year-old’s return to the Premier League. However, the former Manchester United and West Ham star remains on the market.
Lingard left FC Seoul last year (Image: Getty)
ryan kent
Liverpool academy star Ryan Kent didn’t have much of an impact at Anfield, but he made a name for himself at Rangers. However, the 29-year-old winger currently does not own a club.
He last played for the Seattle Sounders in MLS after a brief spell with Fenerbahce in Turkey. The fleet-footed wide player still has something to prove in his career and was linked with a return to Scotland throughout the spell.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not been with a club since August 2025, when he left Besiktas, but he remains busy. The former Arsenal player has been training with the Gunners to maintain match fitness, with some reports even suggesting that he is unlikely to return.
However, more specific reports have brought Celtic into the picture, suggesting the Scottish side could consider signing the 32-year-old on deadline day. But there’s still time for other clubs to make a move.
Oxlade-Chamberlain training at Arsenal (Image: Getty)
aaron ramsey
Aaron Ramsey is one of the stars looking to get playing time ahead of important international matches. The Arsenal hero last played for Pumas in Mexico, where he could only play for a few months due to fitness problems and a personal crisis.
Wales have a World Cup play-off semi-final on the horizon and Ramsey may be looking to join Craig Bellamy’s side for that. At 35, he is still on the market, and his final spell in England saw him return to Cardiff City, where he briefly served as caretaker manager.
James Rodriguez
Everton pulled off an almighty coup when James Rodriguez arrived at Goodison Park in 2020, but the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich man is currently unemployed. Since his last spell with England, Rodriguez has played in Qatar, Greece, Brazil, Spain and Mexico.
At 34 years old, he is well past his prime, but with the World Cup approaching, the Colombian is looking for playing time. According to reports, it must be said that the international icon is likely to sign with a club in North or South America.
Rodriguez previously played for Everton (Image: Getty)
Serge Aurier
Another former Spurs star who also became a free agent is defender Serge Aurier. The 33-year-old spent more than four years in north London and also played for Nottingham Forest.
After leaving Galatasaray, he spent more than a year without a club from February 2024 to the summer of 2025, eventually signing with Persepolis of the Persian Gulf Professional League. However, he left Tehran in January and, if fit, could offer a defensive option to several English clubs.
dele alli
The enigmatic Dele Alli has been without a club since leaving Italian side Como 1907 in September last year. Since then, the former Tottenham star has been training privately in preparation for his return.
At 29 years old, he has the potential to still play for many years if he avoids early retirement, and like many talented free agents, he has raw talent. Reports in January suggested a move to Spain, but there were also rumors of an interest in the Championship.
The former Spurs star is without a club (Image: Getty)
Divock Origi
Liverpool’s Champions League-winning cult hero Divock Origi is another name the club could sign after he becomes a free agent. Since leaving the Reds permanently in 2022, he has played on loan at AC Milan and Nottingham Forest.
Origi’s contract in Italy was mutually terminated in December and he has been unemployed since then. He may not be up to fitness and his wage demands are likely to be high, but the 30-year-old quality player could be worth a mid-season gamble.
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