David Moyes faces a selection crisis at Everton after deadline day deals for Folarin Balogun and Kenny Tete collapsed, leaving the club to explore the free agent market.
The club had already lost Beto and Nathan Patterson. Fulham withdrew from the Tete transfer, while Balogun reversed his decision to move to Merseyside for a medical.
Everton did sign former Arsenal and England player Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the afternoon, while Jack Grealish rejoined to replace Iliman Ndiaye. However, the squad is now left with just one natural striker and two recognised full backs, supported by other squad members who can fill in.
The transfer window has closed, meaning teams must now look to players who left their clubs before the deadline to bolster their squads for the grueling season ahead.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is the most high profile player available. The 38 year old Ballon d'Or winner and five time Champions League champion left Al-Hilal earlier this year.
Benzema reportedly earned 1.4 million pounds a week when he left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad in 2023, before collecting 2 million pounds a week at Al-Hilal. He would have to accept a significant pay cut to play in England, but could provide backup for Thierno Barry.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko remains unattached after his contract at Ajax expired following a four month spell. The 29 year old left Arsenal last year and joined Nottingham Forest on a season long loan in September 2025, but made only 10 appearances before the deal was cut short.
The four time Premier League champion, who also has four League Cup wins and one FA Cup victory, has played more regularly in midfield recently and is currently injured.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba is available after leaving Monaco last month. The 33 year old World Cup winner joined the French side last year after a doping ban at Juventus, where he had moved following his second disappointing departure from Manchester United.
His experience could benefit younger teammates if a club decides to offer him a short term deal.
Jadon Sancho
Former England star Jadon Sancho has been released from his 300,000 pound a week contract and is expected to join Palmeiras in Brazil.
The forward previously left Manchester United on loan for Borussia Dortmund, and later spent time with Chelsea and Aston Villa. No English club is expected to match his previous salary.
Raphael Guerreiro
Raphael Guerreiro left Bayern Munich in the summer after three years, following a seven year spell at Borussia Dortmund.
The 32 year old left back could challenge Vitaly Mykolenko for a starting place at Everton, where fans have grown frustrated with the Ukrainian. Jake O'Brien is capable of playing at right back, while Jarrad Branthwaite is the second choice left back.
Tyrell Malacia
Tyrell Malacia is looking for a new club after Manchester United released him in the summer. The 27 year old spent four years at Old Trafford and had a stint at PSV last year.
A return to the Netherlands is a possibility for the defender, who may not want to return to the Premier League.
Mauro Icardi
Mauro Icardi left Galatasaray in the summer and is reportedly set to join Lazio. The 33 year old scored 124 goals in 219 games for Inter, 77 in 134 for Galatasaray, and 38 in 92 for Paris Saint Germain.
Icardi recently split from his wife, the Argentinian model and presenter Wanda Nara, with whom he has two children. He accused her of infidelity with singer L-Gante and his former teammates Federico Fazio and Keita Balde.
Dani Carvajal
Former Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal is a free agent after leaving the club in the summer. The 34 year old earned a reported 171,000 pounds a week in Spain.
Carvajal has played in Spain since 2013, making a move to the Premier League unlikely at this stage in his career.
Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial has left Mexican side Monterrey by mutual consent. The 30 year old scored one goal in 20 appearances in North America.
Martial famously had a Ballon d'Or clause in his contract when he joined Manchester United, where he announced himself with a debut goal against Liverpool as a teenager. He went on to score 90 goals in 317 games for United, and later scored nine times in 24 matches for AEK Athens.
Joselu
Joselu left Qatari club Al-Gharafa earlier this year. The 36 year old striker formed a surprise partnership with Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid just 18 months ago.
The former Stoke City and Newcastle United forward stands at 6 feet 4 inches and offers a physical presence for any club needing an experienced attacker.
Other available players
Several other prominent players are without clubs. Tottenham Hotspur released Yves Bissouma, while Arsenal let Reiss Nelson go before the transfer window closed.
Riyad Mahrez, Adam Webster, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Wilfried Zaha, Tanguy Ndombele and Raheem Sterling are also available for teams looking to recruit outside the window.
