Transfer Window: Five players who are still without a club

There are now less than two weeks until the transfer window shuts in England, but there is likely to be plenty more drama as clubs work hard to finalise late deals. 

A number of clubs have already spent big, with all 20 Premier League sides signing at least one player this summer.

Despite all of the incomings and outgoings from Premier League training grounds, there are still plenty of big name players who are yet to find a club.

Here, we take a look at five of the biggest names who are still free agents.

Juan Mata

When Mata arrived in the Premier League with Chelsea back in 2011, fans were expecting big things from a player that had managed 27 goal involvements during his final season with Valencia. The Spanish international continued his fine form in west London, scoring 12 goals and providing 20 assists across all competitions as The Blues won both the Champions League and the FA Cup. The following season Mata was even more impressive, scoring 19 goals and providing a remarkable 35 assists, but the 2013/14 season was one to forget for the Spaniard. After Jose Mourinho’s return, the attacking midfielder was used sparingly and eventually joined Manchester United in January 2014.

Mata managed a remarkable 31 goals and 55 assists across his first two seasons with Chelsea

Eight years later, the 34-year-old departed Old Trafford having made 285 appearances for The Red Devils and, despite links with Leeds United earlier this summer, the player remains a free agent.

Willian

Another former Chelsea player who finds himself without a club, Willian has been training with Fulham as he looks to secure a move back to Europe, according to The Evening Standard. The Brazilian spent seven years at Chelsea, where he scored 63 goals and provided 62 assists, before joining Arsenal in 2020. After just 12 months in north London, the Brazil international departed for Corinthians, but his time there was cut short when a mutual termination of his contract was agreed.

Willian enjoyed a successful spell with Chelsea

Since then, there has been very little talk of Willian joining any club other than Fulham, although it remains to be seen whether or not Marco Silva’s side will offer the 34-year-old a contract.

Edinson Cavani

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani became something of a cult hero during his time at Old Trafford, netting 19 goals in 59 matches and earning the respect of the United faithful with his tireless performances. He left The Red Devils at the end of the season, though, and hasn’t yet found a new club. The 35-year-old has played more than 600 games during his career which has taken him to Paris Saint-Germain, Palermo and Napoli, as well as to Manchester. It seems that his record of 360 goals in 615 matches isn’t enough to attract a new club, though.

Marcelo

Few players in the history of football have enjoyed a career as successful as that of Brazilian defender Marcelo. The left-back made more than 540 appearances for Spanish giants Real Madrid over the course of a 15-year period, but left Los Blancos at the end of last season. During his stay in the Spanish capital, Marcelo won 25 trophies including the Champions League five times, six La Liga titles and four FIFA Club World Cup titles. A return to his native Brazil had been touted for the 34-year-old, but he is so far yet to make a decision over his future.

Marcelo lifted the Champions League for the fifth time last season

Serge Aurier

Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier has found himself without a club twice in the past 12 months, having departed Tottenham Hotspur last August. On that occasion, it took the right-back until October to agree a move to Spanish side Villarreal, however he spent just one season in Spain before once again finding himself a free agent. The ex-PSG defender was inconsistent to say the least during his time in London, but he remains the captain of his country and will likely have attracted interest since leaving Villarreal earlier this summer. During a four-year stay in north London, Aurier registered 17 assists in 110 games for The Lilywhites. Recent reports have even linked the full-back with a shock move to Nottingham Forest, as per The Sun.