Best Strikers Available on a Free Transfer This Summer
A football pitch – Source: Unsplash
The 2025/26 European football season has reached its apex, and now is the time to claim silverware. In England, Arsenal look to be in the process of bottling their title challenge once again, with a recent defeat at home to Bournemouth opening the door for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to mount yet another challenge. In the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s men also showed signs of running out of steam as they scraped past Sporting CP with a goalless draw at the Emirates, ultimately enough to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Online betting sites had listed Arsenal as the favourites to claim the famous ‘Big-Eared’ trophy all year long; however, that display against the reigning Portuguese champions has prompted them to change course. Now, the latest Bovada soccer odds make Bayern Munich the clear 7/4 frontrunner, with the Gunners behind them at 9/4. But regardless of who claims the crown in Budapest on May 31st, one thing is certain: we have a huge summer ahead of us.
On the one hand, we have the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. On the other, we have the opening of the transfer window, ushering in a slew of mega-money deals as clubs look to strengthen their squads ahead of next season. But which marquee strikers are available for absolutely nothing at the expiry of their contract? Here are some of the biggest names.
Robert Lewandowski
Polish legend Robert Lewandowski turns 38 this summer, but the veteran hitman still has plenty to offer. The Barcelona striker has managed 17 goals in Catalonia this season, despite the fact that he has played somewhat of a bit-part role, with the likes of Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford both often preferred to Lewa. The former Bayern Munich man’s game has never been about pace or strength, the two things that usually decline with advancing years.
Instead, Lewandowski has always been the very definition of a goalscorer. His finishing ability remains second to none, while he always seems to find himself in the right place at the right time, ready and waiting to slot the ball away. Italian giants Juventus are thought to be at the front of the queue in the race to secure his signature, and there can be no denying that he would be a step up on current starter Jonathan David, also signed on a free transfer last summer. Whether he heads to the Bianconeri or perhaps opts to return to Germany remains to be seen.
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Dušan Vlahović
When Juventus signed Dušan Vlahović from Fiorentina for €70m in January 2022, beating Arsenal to his signature, he was supposed to be the Bianconeri’s striker for the next decade. And while the Serbian initially hit the ground running, netting nine goals in his first half a season, his goalscoring output has never been enough to catapult the Turin club back into Serie A contention.
He hasn’t reached the 20-goal mark in any of his five seasons at the Allianz Stadium, with his best effort being 18 back in 2023/24. This season, he has just three goals in 14 Serie A appearances and is regularly found on the bench while Jonathan David starts. As such, he is expected to leave the club this summer, with a number of teams sniffing around in a bid to pick up the former Partizan Belgrade youngster from the bargain bin.
The likes of Newcastle United and Napoli were both rumoured to be interested in Vlahović last summer. In January, Barcelona were also thought to be interested, and there is a very real chance that they will make a move for the Serbian in the summer while their current striker Lewandowski trades places and heads to Turin.
Mauro Icardi
Mauro Icardi was once considered to be one of Europe’s most lethal marksmen. Throughout his Inter Milan days, he was borderline unplayable, clearing the 25-goal mark in three of his five full seasons with the club. However, a falling out with former manager Antonio Conte saw the Argentinian shipped off to Paris Saint-Germain before eventually on to Galatasaray, where he remains to this day at the age of 33.
Icardi has an impressive scoring record of 76 goals in 129 appearances in Istanbul, including a prolific 32-goal campaign two years ago. This term, he has fallen below the spectacular Victor Osimhen in the pecking order, but he has still managed to net 15 goals, despite enjoying far less game time than in recent years.
His contract is also set to expire this summer, and Gala are expected to allow their once-prized asset to leave on a free. Juventus were rumoured to be interested in Icardi as well as Lewandowski, and if the Bianconeri could land both in the summer, then they would fancy their chances of mounting a Serie A title charge next season.