Emergency Reinforcements: Free Agents Who Could Still Transform a Season

The transfer window may be closed, but that doesn’t mean clubs are out of options. Across Europe, managers are already nervously scanning the free-agent market for reinforcements—because injuries and thin squads don’t wait for January.

We’ve seen before how decisive such signings can be. Just last summer, Barcelona swooped in to sign Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny outside the window, solving a crisis between the posts. This year, there are once again some familiar names available for free – players who could walk straight into a starting XI and make a difference.

Here are six of the most intriguing free agents still on the market:

Christian Eriksen – Midfielder, Denmark

Few players bring the mix of experience, leadership, and creativity that Eriksen does. The Danish international left Manchester United when his contract expired in June and has been training with Malmö FF to keep sharp. Besiktas are circling with a two-year offer, but he remains unattached for now. For any club needing composure and vision in midfield, Eriksen could be a short-term game-changer.

Sergio Reguilón – Left-Back, Spain

Released by Tottenham this summer, Reguilón is hardly a player past his prime. At just 28, he still has the energy and drive to bomb up and down the flank. AC Milan, West Ham, and Everton have all shown interest, and it’s easy to see why. With Champions League experience and proven quality in the Premier League and La Liga, Reguilón offers a ready-made solution for clubs short of depth at left-back.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – Defender, Japan

His Arsenal exit was a surprise, even if injuries played a role. Tomiyasu is a rare breed: a defender comfortable across multiple positions, from centre-back to right-back. Both AC Milan and West Ham are monitoring him closely. If he can prove his fitness, he could become one of the smartest free-agent pickups of the year.

Hakim Ziyech – Winger, Morocco

Once a Champions League hero with Ajax, Ziyech’s career has been stop-start since leaving Chelsea. After parting ways with Al-Duhail in Qatar, he’s now available on a free. Elche are pushing hard to bring him back to La Liga, while Bologna and Fiorentina are also sniffing around. For clubs looking to inject flair and unpredictability into their attack, the Moroccan playmaker still has plenty to offer.

Paco Alcácer – Striker, Spain

Goals are the hardest currency in football—and Alcácer knows how to score them. A former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund striker, he has also shone in the Europa League with Villarreal. His most recent spell was in the UAE with Sharjah, but at 32 he remains a clinical finisher. Any mid-table side needing a poacher could see Alcácer as a low-risk, high-reward addition.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Midfielder/Winger, England

Once one of England’s brightest prospects, Oxlade-Chamberlain has struggled with injuries but remains a versatile option who can cover central midfield or wide areas. After leaving Beşiktaş earlier this year, he is still searching for a new club. At 32, he might not offer the same explosive pace he once had, but his experience in the Premier League and Champions League makes him a valuable squad player. For a side chasing depth and energy in midfield, he could be an inspired signing.

Season-Changing Signings

This group of free agents isn’t just made up of familiar faces. They are players who can still influence title races, relegation battles, and European pushes—without costing a transfer fee. Whether it’s Eriksen’s vision, Reguilón’s energy, Tomiyasu’s versatility, Ziyech’s creativity, Alcácer’s goals, or Oxlade-Chamberlain’s adaptability, each of them has the potential to shift the momentum of a club’s season.

As Barcelona showed with Szczęsny last summer, smart business outside the transfer window can be the difference between crisis and stability. The names are there, the contracts are waiting—now it’s just a matter of which club dares to make the first move.

So the real question is: which one of these free agents would you want at your club right now?