Behold! The finest freebies in FM19 you can snap up in your first summer – starring big-club cast-offs, promising youths and experienced old-timers
Everybody loves a freebie – and the players below could fit the bill for teams of all shapes and sizes.
We've scouted out the best free transfers in Football Manager 2019 so you don't have to, picking out a clutch of stars who might be able to fill important gaps in your squad.
If none of them fit the bill, at least consider wheeling out Dimitar Berbatov for one final swansong anyway, won't you?
Former Barcelona prospect Cuenca has struggled to find himself a home in the post-Camp Nou era. Spells in La Liga with the likes of Deportivo and Granada went fairly well, before the Spaniard spent 2017/18 in Israel with Hapoel Be’er-Sheva.
In FM19, the 27-year-old’s technical stats are very impressive, but stereotypically he’s found wanting when it comes to the physical side of his game. Still, he’ll do for us as a handy squad pick.
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Jan Kirchhoff
After a frustrating move to Bayern Munich in 2013, spells with Schalke and Sunderland didn’t go quite to plan for the now-27-year-old defender-cum-defensive-midfielder – although a successful stint on Wearside was only ruined by a nasty knee injury.
More comfortable as a holding midfielder, former Germany U21 stalwart Kirchhoff has all of the basic qualities required to be a solid defensive option, as well as some mental attributes that lend themselves to breaking up play effectively.
Assane Gnoukouri
Gnoukouri’s age – just 21 – makes him a worthy investment. After struggling to get minutes for Inter, the Ivorian needs somewhere to continue his development.
His passing and first touch are strong, while his stamina and natural fitness should mean the youngster has a good engine to get around the pitch and stamp his influence on games.
Samir Nasri
Technically gifted and still capable of playing for a few years yet, Nasri is a worthwhile gamble to take. Although he will command hefty wages, his playmaking attributes are at a top-class level.
With excellent technique, flair and movement, the Frenchman has the ability to make things happen from advanced areas in midfield. His physicals don’t need to impress because he’ll do his talking on the ball, which shouldn't make for a painful ageing process.
A disastrous signing for Sunderland, Gabon international Ndong was sacked by the club after going AWOL following their relegation to League One last season.
Still just 24, however, he has very handy physical and mental stats for playing the role of a ball-winning midfielder, as well as the basic technical skills to get by in possession and do the simple things well enough.
Philipp Wollscheid
Pace isn’t Wollscheid’s strong point, but the 29-year-old central defender will be excellent for you when defending deep in his own box.
The German’s heading, marking and tackling are all strong, and he has excellent mentals for keeping switched on at the back. Aside from his measly acceleration, the former Stoke defender looks to be an excellent proposition for a reserved side.
Leonard Kweuke
If you’re in need of an experienced targetman to lead your attack, look no further than Kweuke. Strong, very good in the air and 6ft 2in, the Cameroonian could be a real handful for a team that plays direct football.
He boasts an impressive goalscoring record over the last five seasons in Turkey, and has the statistics – 16 for heading, 15 for finishing, 18 for strength, plus fine physicals – to back up that goalscoring form.
Robert Huth
There's surely another stellar season left in Huth. After leaving Leicester in the summer, the 33-year-old central defender still has the physical qualities required to defend deep and protect his own area.
The Premier League winner's heading, jumping reach and 6ft 3in frame should combine to help nullify targetmen, deal with direct opponents and even threaten from set-pieces.
Ionut Rus
A free agent after leaving Lazio, the teenage goalkeeping prospect will be willing to accept very low wages by the standards of top European clubs.
Although he isn’t well rounded or ready to play at the top level at the start of your save, Rus would make for a relatively risk-free investment who has the potential to eventually become a useful back-up goalkeeper in one of Europe’s top leagues.
Benoit Tremoulinas
A free agent for a couple of seasons now, Tremoulinas still has very well-rounded stats for performing well as a solid wing-back. His physicals remain strong for an ageing player, while his dribbling and crossing attributes ensure he can have an influence in the final third.
The 32-year-old Frenchman doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses and would be a very useful addition to squads that need to balance their responsibilities across multiple competitions.
Diego Poyet
FM favourite Poyet is once again on the free transfer market after a season in Cyprus. The Uruguayan would make a great deep-lying playmaker for the Championship, although aged just 23, he can still become an integral part of a team with Premier League ambitions.
Strong technical attributes mean that he looks after the ball well – although he’s no stranger to a booking, so watch out.
Dimitar Berbatov
For flair, style and reputation alone, Berba deserves a chance. The fact that his physical attributes are weak means little – the Bulgarian icon is famously not a man for blood, sweat and tears.
His technical attributes are still Premier League standard, meaning that on a short-term contract, the 37-year-old could have the expertise to snatch a few vital goals off the bench.
Papy Djilobodji
Fortunately, worrying about Djilobodji’s conduct at Sunderland isn’t something that you have to take into account in Football Manager 2019.
The Senegalese central defender may have embarrassed himself in the real world – leading to a contract termination at the Stadium of Light – but in-game he still has strong core stats, as well as extremely impressive physicals. His pace, jumping reach and height are huge plus points.
Although his stamina may have dropped in his twilight years, Johnson is still a very solid option at right-back. The former Liverpool man’s core defensive stats are all strong, while his crossing ability and reasonable dribbling enable him to feature as a wing-back too.
There are no big weak spots among his mental attributes either, making him a very useful player to pick up on a short-term deal for a side needing a sprinkling of experience.
