Football is a sport that moves fast. One day, a player is at the peak of their powers, and the next, they’re left struggling to find a club.
Today, we take a look at seven footballers who once lit up the pitch but now find themselves without a team.
7. Dele Alli
Perhaps the saddest name on this list is Dele Alli. At only 28, his career looks like it’s over, a far cry from his electric form between 2015 and 2020 when he scored 62 goals for Tottenham Hotspur. After a failed move to Everton in 2022 and a loan spell at Besiktas that didn’t work out, Dele returned to Everton, where he failed to make an impression. Released in 2024, the once-promising star is now a free agent, a shadow of the player who once took the Premier League by storm.
6. Mariano Díaz
Mariano Díaz once carried the expectations of being Real Madrid’s next big thing after inheriting Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic number 7 shirt. While he shone in the Real Madrid academy, netting 32 goals in 43 matches for Castilla, Mariano never managed to translate that success into the first team. With just 12 goals in 84 appearances for Madrid, his time at the club didn’t pan out, and now, the former hot prospect finds himself a free agent, waiting for another opportunity to revive his career.
5. Loris Karius
The once-promising German goalkeeper Loris Karius has been searching for redemption ever since that fateful night in the 2018 Champions League final, where his errors cost Liverpool the title. Since then, Karius has bounced between clubs, and after a brief stint at Newcastle United—where he played only two games in two years—he’s once again without a club. At 31, Karius is still relatively young for a goalkeeper, but he’ll need to find a new club quickly to avoid fading into obscurity.
4. Keylor Navas
Keylor Navas is a name synonymous with winning, having lifted three consecutive Champions League trophies with Real Madrid. However, after Thibaut Courtois took his spot at Madrid, Navas moved to PSG, where he played 114 games before losing his place to Gianluigi Donnarumma. A loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2023-24 didn’t lead to a permanent deal, and at 37, Navas finds himself a free agent. Despite his impressive record, his next move remains uncertain.
3. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Choupo-Moting’s career is proof that sometimes, it’s better to be in the right place at the right time. From Stoke City to Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Choupo-Moting has been something of a journeyman but consistently found himself at top clubs. Despite not being a household name, he played a key role at Bayern, particularly when Robert Lewandowski left and Sadio Mané struggled. After scoring 17 goals in the 2022-23 season, Choupo-Moting is currently a free agent, with plenty of clubs likely to come calling.
2. Wissam Ben Yedder
Wissam Ben Yedder has been one of the most efficient strikers in European football over the past decade. Known for his sharp finishing and playmaking abilities, Ben Yedder scored 110 goals and registered 34 assists during his time at AS Monaco. However, at 34 years old, he is currently without a club, having parted ways with Monaco in July 2024. His current legal troubles may also complicate his search for a new team, despite his undoubted talent.
1. Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos, one of the greatest defenders of the 21st century, is still without a club after parting ways with Sevilla at the end of the 2023-24 season. A Real Madrid legend, Ramos has an incredible resume: four Champions League titles, five La Liga trophies, and 101 goals in 671 matches for Los Blancos. Even at 38, Ramos remains in top physical shape and eager to continue his career, with rumors of a potential move to Saudi Arabia on the horizon.
Conclusion
These seven players were once the toast of European football, but now find themselves without a club. Whether it’s due to age, form, or off-field issues, their careers have taken a downturn, but for some, a new chapter could still be just around the corner.
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