Signing players whose contracts are expiring is the most cost-effective way to get top-tier performers for your squad in EA Sports FC 26. Who is out of contract in 2026? This article lists the best FC 26 free agents and contract expiry in Season 1, Season 2 and Season 3 (2026/2027/2028), as well as the method to find and sign pre-contract players.
In EA FC 26 Career Mode, contract expiry players refer to players who have less than one year remaining on their current contracts. During the final period of their contract, managers can sign these players on a free transfer, often without a transfer fee or at a reduced price. You can sign the following players from January 1, 2026. Theier contract will end on June 30, 2026.
Player - Position - OVR Rating
Marc Guéhi - CB - 82
Ibrahima Konaté - CB - 86
Andreas Christensen - CB - 80
John Stones - CB - 82
Niklas Süle - CB - 81
Rúben Neves - CDM - 84
Bernardo Silva - CM - 84
Quinten Timber - CM - 80
Sadio Mané - LM - 83
Julian Brandt - CAM - 83
Francisco Trincao - CAM - 82
Ademola Lookman - ST - 84
Dušan Vlahović - ST - 82
Yannick Carrasco - LW - 81
Romain Saïss - CB - 79
Robert Lewandowski - ST - 88
Mike Maignan - GK - 87
Antonio Rudiger - CB - 86
Dayot Upamecano - CB - 85
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - CM - 84
Leon Goretzka - CM - 82
Serge Gnabry RM 30 82
Andrew Robertson LB 31 82
Casemiro CDM 33 80
Harry Maguire CB 32 80
Franck Kessie CDM 28 80
Eric Garcia CB 24 79
Yves Bissouma CDM 29 78
Weston McKennie CM 27 78
Player - Position - OVR Rating
Marcel Ruiz - CM - 75
Luis Malagón - GK - 78
Alisson - GK - 89
Virgil van Dijk - CB - 90
Bukayo Saka - RW - 88
Thibaut Courtois - GK - 89
Player - Position - OVR Rating
Erick Sanchez - CM - 78
Tomas Galvez - LB - 60
Patrik Gunnarsson - GK - 68
Jan Oblak - GK - 88
Reece James - RB - 81
Marco Carnesecchi - GK - 84
Rio Ngumoha - LM - 68
Mario Stroeykens - CM - 74
Firstly, go the the Squad tab on the Manager Career Mode menu and choose the Squad Hub.
Then, enter the Squad Hub and switch to Financial view.
You can use left and right buttons on D-pad to go to contract.
Press X (Xbox) or Square (PlayStation) to sort the contract length column. Press it again to flip the order and bring players with expiring contracts to the top.
1. Enable Scouting
First, when you start your Career Mode, make sure you have scouting settings turned on. This helps you find players whose contracts are about to expire, known as pre-contract players.
2. Hire a Scout
Next, go to the Transfers menu and select Scouts. If you don’t have a scout yet, hire one to help you find these players.
3. Set Scout Instructions to Find Pre-Contract Players
After hiring a scout, go to Scout Instructions and choose Add New Instruction. Set the minimum age to 23 because you can only sign players aged 23 or older on a free transfer. Then, set the contract length filter with a minimum of 0 years and a maximum of 1 year. This way, your scout will look for players with less than 1 year left on their current contract.
4. Check Scout Report
Once your scout instructions are set, check your Scout Report regularly. If no players appear at first, simulate a few days and check again. Your scouts will list players who have contracts expiring soon, such as those with 11 months left.
5. Wait Until Contract Has 6 Months Left
You can't approach or sign these players immediately. You must wait until their contract has 6 months or less remaining. This usually happens around the January transfer window, so keep an eye on the contract length in your scout reports.
6. Sign the Player
When the player's contract reaches 6 months remaining, the option will change from "Buy" to "Approach Player". At this point, you can start contract negotiations and sign the player on a free transfer. The player will join your team at the start of the next season.
Tip: It’s best to try this from your second or third season onward. In the first season, fewer players are available on pre-contract because many renew their contracts. Add the players you like to your shortlist and simulate or play until the January transfer window to track contract expirations.
If you do not want to lose some players, you can also renew the contracts before they expires.
1. Access the Squad Hub:
Similarly, to renew contracts in FC 26 Career Mode, start by accessing the Squad Hub from the Squad menu. This is where you can view all players along with detailed contract information, including how much time they have left before their contracts expire.
2. Check Contract Status:
Next, check the contract status of players, focusing on those with contracts nearing expiration, such as those with 9 months or less remaining. Review their happiness, contract details, attributes, and financial information to help decide who you want to keep.
3. Select the Player for Renewal:
When you select a player for renewal, you’ll have several options:
Delegate Renewal (can be risky if the negotiation fails)
Release Player (if no renewal or loan is desired)
Dismiss Renewal (if you want to loan them out)
Contract Negotiation (to personally negotiate terms)
4. Choose Proper Offer and Squad Role :
During negotiations, be aware that some players might initially refuse to negotiate. You may need to wait or adjust your offers. Also, consider the player’s role in the squad. Some categories will affect negotiations. Avoid labeling a player as "Crucial" if you don’t plan to use them regularly, as they may request a transfer.
5. Negotiate Contract Terms:
Propose contract extensions by offering additional years on the contract and adjust the player's wage and signing bonus carefully. Use counteroffers to reach a balance between what the player wants and what you can afford, avoiding offers that are too low or too high.
6. Release Clauses & Transfer Requests:
Pay attention to release clauses and any transfer requests that arise during negotiations. If a player asks to leave, you might need to increase your offer or prepare to let them go, depending on your squad strategy.
7. Finalize the Contract:
Once you and the player agree on the terms, finalize the contract by accepting the deal. If negotiations fail, you can end talks, release the player, or consider other options such as loans or transfers. Don’t overspend on renewals if you have adequate backups, and try to negotiate closer to contract expiry, but with enough time to plan your squad moves.
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