As of January 1, footballers with contracts expiring on June 30, 2023, can officially negotiate with interested clubs and already sign a contract, without having to ask their current employer for permission. This year, several highly decorated players belong to this group. World Cup winner Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and European champion Jorginho still have to clarify their futures, among others.
Kroos, Messi & Co. – Most valuable players with contracts expiring in 2023
While it looks like Jorginho will bid farewell to Chelsea for quite some time, everything points to a renewal with Real Madrid in the case of Benzema. The striker has been under contract with Los Blancos for over 13 years, making him one of the five most loyal footballers in La Liga.
The situation with Messi did not seem that clear initially. “There is no decision from him or from our side,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said ahead of the World Cup in Qatar when asked about the exceptional player, who was previously linked with a move to MLS side Inter Miami, although the Argentine’s camp quickly denied that. After the World Cup title, however, there were increasing signs that Messi would stay in Paris for at least another season. With a market value of €50 million, the forward is the second most valuable player on the list of footballers with contracts expiring next summer. In Jorginho, Youri Tielemans, Wilfried Zaha, Leandro Trossard, N’Golo Kanté, Roberto Firmino, Ilkay Gündogan and Caglar Söyüncü, eight Premier League players make the top 20 as well.
Stars with contracts expiring in 2023: Inter Milan’s Skriniar ahead of Messi
Messi, whose 2021 move to PSG made him the World’s most valuable free transfer to date, only ranks behind Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, who is worth €60m and has been on the radar of the Ligue 1 club for some time. According to reports, an official offer to the centre-back will be made in January, while at the same time the Nerazzurri want to extend his contract as soon as possible. “Inter want Skriniar to stay for a long time,” sporting director Piero Ausilio recently said.
Messi, Pogba & Co. – The most valuable free transfers in history
While Benzema and Messi will most likely commit to their current clubs, Tielemans, Zaha, Trossard, Söyüncü and Adrien Rabiot could be looking for a new challenge and move on without a transfer fee. Nevertheless, it is a fairy tale that clubs can sign these footballers for free. Top players, who are out of contract, come with a high price tag because, in addition to agent and signing-on fees, they are in a very good position when it comes to negotiating a salary with their potential new employers.
Messi, Kanté & Co. The most valuable players with contracts expiring in 2023
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Where they will play next season also remains to be seen in the cases of veterans such as Kanté, Firmino, Gündogan and Toni Kroos. While Kroos wants to decide by March whether he will extend his contract with Real once again or retire from football already, Gündogan made his future at Manchester City dependent on head coach Pep Guardiola, who came forward in November and signed a new contract.
