- The transfer market is currently open, and teams in the top leagues of Europe are rushing to complete deals.
- Here are some of the free deals that have gone unnoticed.
The transfer market is currently open, and teams in the top leagues of Europe are rushing to complete deals.
It might be simple to overlook some of the finalized deals that clubs have already announced due to the abundance of transfer rumors, and conjectures that have surfaced throughout this summer’s transfer season.
Here are the best free deals that have gone unnoticed.
Edin Dzeko – Inter Milan to Fenerbahce
Edin Dzeko transfer to Fenerbahce. Photo/Goal
Edin Dzeko has shown his timeless quality during Inter Milan’s journey to the Champions League final last year, but the Bosnian has already moved on in pursuit of his next challenge after agreeing to a two-year contract with Fenerbahce.
The 37-year-old will team up with ex-Premier League players Joshua King, Michy Batshuayi, and ex-Rangers winger Ryan Kent at the Turkish team, who finished as runners-up to champions Galatasaray in the Süper Lig this past season.
Dzeko, who departed Inter with a record of 31 goals in 101 games over the past two seasons, has finished seasons as the top scorer in both the Bundesliga and Serie A. He will look to repeat the feat in a new league next season.
Konrad Laimer – RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich
In previous transfer windows, Bayern Munich has frequently scoured their league opponents for quality, and Konrad Laimer is another standout addition.
After declining a new contract at the Red Bull Arena, Laimer left RB Leipzig for the Bundesliga winners on a free transfer. The Austrian midfielder is an all-action character at his best and will compete with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in midfield despite recent fitness difficulties.
After battling against Bayern’s winning machine in recent campaigns, Laimer acknowledged he is embracing the challenge of representing Germany’s best club. He is also capable of filling in at right-back if necessary.
Naby Keita – Liverpool to Werder Bremen
Naby Keita joined Werder Bremen. Photo/SV Werder Bremen
It’s fair to assume that Naby Keita’s Liverpool career did not go as planned. His five seasons at the Reds proved to be a time of flashes, false dawns, and recurring fitness difficulties despite being hailed as the man for Jurgen Klopp to construct his midfield around and given Steven Gerrard’s number eight shirt.
At Liverpool, he made fewer than 10 Premier League starts each season on average, and when his contract ended this summer, he was free to depart. After a standout stint in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig, Keita chose to go back to Germany.
He has signed for Werder Bremen, which is seen as a coup for a player who was selected to the Bundesliga’s Team of the Season in 2016–17 and who cost £52.75 million when he left Germany for England.
Alejandro Grimaldo – Benfica to Bayer Leverkusen
Prior to the start of the new season, Bayer Leverkusen swiftly bolstered their roster by signing Alejandro Grimaldo on a free transfer from Benfica. The left-back, who declined to extend his contract in Portugal, comes on a free transfer and will team up with fellow countryman Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen. The former Liverpool player has had a successful start to his coaching career in the Bundesliga.
Grimaldo played a key role in Benfica’s championship triumph and run to the Champions League quarterfinals last season, earning him a reputation as one of the most prolific wing-backs outside of Europe’s top five leagues in recent seasons.
The Spaniard improved Benfica’s creative options in 2022–23, scoring eight goals and dishing out 16 assists across all competitions. Leverkusen will benefit from his contributions as they look to bounce back from a disastrous start and qualify for the Europa League.
Evan N’Dicka – Eintracht Frankfurt to Roma
Evan N’Dicka. Photo/Sky Sports
The fact that Evan N’Dicka would not extend his contract with Eintracht Frankfurt put him on the radar of numerous Premier League teams, but the defender has chosen to sign a long-term contract with Roma.
The 23-year-old finished last season third in the Bundesliga for clearances and tenth for blocks. He was a member of the Frankfurt club that won the Europa League in 2021–2022. The addition of the left-side central defender will strengthen Jose Mourinho’s team’s defensive options as the capital club works to qualify for the Champions League again next year.
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