The best free agents to sign on Football Manager 2022
By Tom Gott
One of the first things you should do on any Football Manager save is check the free agents pool, and FM22 is no different.
Finding bargains in the transfer market has never been more important than it is these days, and there are plenty of potential gems available to join your team for nothing... as long as you get to them quick enough.
Here are the best free agents for every position in FM22 after the Winter Update.
FM 2022 - best free agents
Goalkeepers
Miguel Angel Moya
Moya may have hung up his gloves in real life, but on the virtual pitch he's the best shot-stopper available in the free agent pool.
Wilson
One of the top available goalkeepers is Brazilian veteran Wilson. He'd make a capable backup for any side and is still good enough to start for a second-tier team, but at 38 years old, you won't have him for long.
Cesar
Cesar is a fair few years younger than Wilson and can offer a few years of service for any side looking for reliable cover.
Rafael
Now 39, Rafael's time in the game is limited, but he's still a capable stopper with 13 years of experience in Italy.
Giedrius Arlauskis
One-time Watford loanee Giedrius Arlauskis has been all across Europe but has spent most of his days impressing in Romania.
Right-backs
Ahmed Elmohamady
Formerly of Aston Villa, Elmohamady is comfortable at right-back, wing-back and in midfield, so he's the ideal squad player if you're looking for numbers.
Jonathan
35-year-old Brazilian Jonathan still has a decent amount of pace about him and is a capable crosser once he gets into the final third.
Ivan
Ivan's lifetime association with Levante came to an end in 2020 and the 27-year-old is still on the hunt for a new gig.
Para
Ex-Santos man Para may be 35 but his ability to play on both the right and the left would make him a valuable addition.
Victor Ferraz
Ferraz is available after leaving Gremio. The 33-year-old can operate as a wing-back if needed and is an emergency option over on the left.
Centre-backs
Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal hero Koscielny endured a tricky spell with Bordeaux and is on the hunt for a new club. He's more than good enough to start for a smaller top-tier side and could still play second-fiddle to a title contender.
Mateo Musacchio
Musacchio is available after leaving Lazio in the summer, and like Sidnei, he's still absolutely good enough for a spot on a top-tier side.
Jardel
For 35-year-old Jardel, his ten-year spell with Benfica came to an end in the summer. He's still got a year or two left in him.
Edgar Ie
Once of the Barcelona academy, Ie is nursing a nasty knee injury which saw his spell with Trabzonspor cut short.
Sebastian Langkamp
German veteran Sebastian Langkamp left Perth last summer and is still on the hunt for a new team. He's a no-nonsense centre-back with nice technical stats and his physical attributes still hold up too.
Left-backs
Marcelo Saracchi
Get him while you can. Saracchi joined Levante late in February and will be on their squad in the next update.
Senad Lulic
A wing-back by trade, Lulic is capable at left-back, left-mid and left wing, and he's not half-bad as a traditional central midfielder as well. He's the perfect rotation option for a smaller side.
Kwadwo Asamoah
Like Lulic, Asamoah is another who is primarily a left-back but you won't see a drop off in his performance at LB. He's got excellent mental stats but, at 32, the physical side of his game isn't what it once was.
Ken Reichel
Reichel is a dependable option down the left wing and would make a good wing-back because of his high stamina and natural fitness
Franck Tabanou
Frenchman Tabanou has experience in England, Spain and his homeland. He's a mean crosser of the ball so could be a smart addition to any smaller side.
Defensive midfielders
Nigel de Jong
More of an anchor, De Jong is 36 when the game begins and has exactly the sort of physical stats that you'd expect, but 17 tackling (and 17 dirtiness) should make up for that.
Lorenzo Reyes
Chile international Reyes spent a few years in Spain earlier in his career and could still do a solid job for a side with aspirations of gaining promotion to the top flight.
Hudson
Brazilian veteran Hudson's base position is in midfield but you can actually get more out of him as a right-back.
Jack Wilshere
Another of those who won't be here for long, Wilshere's move to Danish side Aarhus missed the cut-off point.
Alejandro Bernal
Bernal has never played outside of Colombia but, now 33 years old, he has enough about him to test himself in a stronger league.
Central midfielders
Filipe Augusto
One of the top bargains of free agency, Augusto is still a capable central midfielder who at 27 years old, still has a lot of life left in him. He might not make the cut for an elite side but he should have top-flight football in his future.
Saphir Taider
Once of Inter, Taider is 29 at the start of the game and still more than good enough for a top team.
Karim El Ahmadi
Veteran Dutchman El Ahmadi is a great deep lying playmaker with some superb mental stats. At 36, enjoy him while you can.
Clement Grenier
Similarly, Grenier is far too good to be in the free agent pool. The former Lyon man has bags of top flight experience and can still offer something towards the bottom of that level.
Fredy Guarin
A long-time favourite of managers on both the virtual and real pitch, Guarin is 35 years old at the start of the game and ready to bring his elite experience to a top team.
Attacking midfielders
Oscar Romero
Romero comes with plenty of experience in South America, recently leaving San Lorenzo in search of new employment. He's joined Boca but you can still pick him up.
Davide Mariani
Mariani is an attacking midfielder by trade but can player deeper or out on the left if you find yourself lacking in those roles.
Aaron Hunt
Hunt's days in the game are numbered. He retired late in February but still makes it into the free agent pool.
Mbark Boussoufa
Another of those heading for retirement, Boussoufa can do a great job in an attacking midfielder role.
Marquinhos Gabriel
Rounding out the fun, 31-year-old Gabriel could do a job for a second-tier side.
Right wingers
Ibai Gomez
Bilbao native Gomez has some very fun stats. 17 free kicks, 17 crossing and 16 long shots should work wonders.
Joao Rojas
15 dribbling and 14 finishing are Rojas' standout stats. In the right system, you could bag yourself a nice winger here.
Leonardo
A good option for both the left and the right, Leonardo's 15 dribbling gives him something to offer your side.
Jota
Formerly of Brentford and Aston Villa, Jota is capable across the forward line and still has enough in him to perform in the second tier.
Daniel Villalva
He's more of a left winger, but Villalva is just as good on the right.
Left wingers
Fernandinho
The second-best Fernandinho on the game is one of your best options for both the right and left wing. The 28-year-old is another of those who would be perfect for a second-tier side.
Gervinho
The iconic Gervinho can make a dangerous inverted winger from the left side. He departed Trabzonspor in January and still has a year or two left in him.
Burgui
Burgui is 27 to start the game and has some nice physical and dribbling stats to go along with his 17 flair.
Victor Rodriguez
After a brief spell in America, Rodriguez returned to his native Spain in 2020 but is back on the hunt for a new club.
Othman El Kabir
With 16 acceleration and 15 flair, El Kabir could be an explosive option off the bench.
Strikers
Diego Costa
The real star of this whole list, Costa is more than good enough for any team on the game and will usually find his way into a reserve role for a genuine powerhouse.
Paolo Guerrero
37-year-old Guerrero is still good enough to play at a good level too. 15 movement, 15 heading and 14 finishing are his stand-out stats.
Mbaye Diagne
Senegal powerhouse Diagne, formerly of Juventus, West Brom and Galatasaray, is looking for a new club after leaving the latter.
Feiver Mercado
Colombian Mercado brings some great mental stats and some nice finishing to go with them.
Robert Beric
Last but not least is Slovenian Beric, whose 15 strength and 15 heading are his stand-out stats.