The free agent market is attracting significant attention from both Premier League and Championship clubs, as managers and recruitment chiefs seek out bargains, gambles, and hidden gems. Stoke City has already initiated their summer activity by signing goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, taking advantage of a relegation release clause. Although Financial Fair Play constraints are not as stringent as in previous years, the club still needs to use its budget efficiently.
Head coach Steven Schumacher and sporting director Jon Walters are focused on enhancing the first team squad by adding balance and quality. They are particularly in the market for one or two strikers and a center-back, while also remaining open to other opportunities that could make a difference.
Several Premier League clubs have yet to confirm their retained lists following the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign. In the Championship, Cardiff City and Leeds United have also not published their lists. Below is a summary of the current group of players without a contract beyond June 30.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Brentford
Released: Shandon Baptiste (CM), Saman Ghoddos (W), Charlie Goode (CB)
Chelsea
Released: Thiago Silva (CB)
Crystal Palace
Released: James Tomkins (CB), Jairo Reidewald (DM)
Everton
Offered new contracts: Seamus Coleman (RB), Ashley Young (W)
Released: Andre Gomes (CM), Andy Lonergan (GK)
Dele, whose contract also ends this month, will remain with the club while he continues an intensive rehabilitation programme from a long-term groin injury
Liverpool
Released: Joel Matip (CB), Thiago (CM)
Manchester United
Released: Rafael Varane (CB), Anthony Martial (ST)
Newcastle United
Released: Matt Ritchie (W), Paul Dummett (LB), Jeff Hendrick (CM), Loris Karius (GK), Kell Watts (CB), Matty Bondswell (LB), Kyle Crossley (W), Amadou Diallo (W), Jordan Hackett (LB), Michael Ndiweni (ST), Jude Smith (GK)
Nottingham Forest
Released: Felipe (CB), Cheikhou Kouyate (CB/CM), Wayne Hennessey (GK)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Blackburn Rovers
In talks: Kyle McFadzean (CB), John Fleck (CM)
Released: Sam Barnes (CB), Lenni Cirino (CB), Ben Fyles (CM), Jay Haddow (RB), Jared Harlock (CM), Ethan Walker (W), Charlie Weston (CM), Ben Thirkill (CB)
Burnley
Offered new contracts: Charlie Taylor (LB)
Released: Jack Cork (DM), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (CM)
Coventry City
Offered new contract: Callum O’Hare (AM)
Released: Liam Kelly (DM), Simon Moore (GK), Dermi Lusala (RB), Bradley Stretton (CM)
Derby County
Offered new contracts: James Collins (S), Louie Sibley (CM)
Released: Conor Hourihane (CM), Korey Smith (CM), Dwight Gayle (CF), Martin Waghorn (F), Scott Loach (GK), Joe Wildsmith (GK)
Hull City
Released: Greg Docherty (CM), Billy Sharp (CF), Vaughn Covil (F), Aaron Connolly (CF), Adama Traore (CM), Cyrus Christie (RB), David Robson (GK)
Luton Town
In talks: Gabe Osho (CB)
Released: Dan Potts (LB), Luke Berry (CM), Fred Onyedinma (W), Elliot Thorpe (W), Admiral Muskwe (F), Josh Allen (F), Tobias Braney (ST), Oliver Camis (GK), Archie Heron (CM), Millar Matthews-Lewis (ST), Ben Tompkins (CB)
Middlesbrough
Released: Paddy McNair (CB), Liam Roberts (GK), Ben Beals (CB), Sam Collins (LB), Joe Gibson (CM), Fenton John (AM), Max Metcalfe (GK), Henry Popple (GK), Jeremy Sivi (W), Frankie Whelan (CB)
Millwall
Offered new contracts: Kamarl Grant (CB), Tom Leahy (CF), Chinwike Okoli (CB), Kyle Smith (CB), Sha’mar Lawson (CM)
Released: Bartosz Bialkowski (GK), Shaun Hutchinson (CB), Abdul Abdulmalik (CF), Nana Boateng (F), George Walker (CM), Finley Cotton (CM), Zane Myers (LB), Seb Drozd (W), Kyron McKay (CB), Frankie Hvid (CB), Arezki Hamouchene (AM)
Norwich City
Released: Danny Batth (CB), Ben Gibson (CB), Dimitris Giannoulis (LB), Sam McCallum (LB), Jon McCracken (GK), Flynn Clarke (CM), Kenny Coker (CF), Joe Duffy (CF), Dubem Eze (AM), Marcel McIntosh (CB), Michael Reindorf (CM), Regan Riley (CM), Joe Rose (GK), Sean Stewart (LB), Ben Watt (RB)
Oxford United
Released: James Henry (W), Marcus Browne (AM), Billy Bodin (W), Steve Seddon (LB)
Plymouth Argyle
Offered new contract: Mickel Miller (WB), Brendan Galloway (LB), Will Jenkins Davies (AM)
Released: Callum Burton (GK), Jack Endacott (CM), Oscar Halls (CB)
Portsmouth
Offered new contracts: Marlon Pack (CM), Connor Ogilvie (LB)
In talks: Joe Morrell (CM), Zak Swanson (RB)
Released: Sean Raggett (CB, joined Rotherham), Joe Rafferty (joined Rotherham), Lee Evans (CM), Josh Martin (W), Matt Macey (GK), Ryan Schofield (GK), Haji Mnoga (RB), Harry Jewitt-White (CM), Liam Vincent (CM), Josh Dockerill (CB/DM)
Preston North End
Offered new contract: Alan Browne (CM), Ched Evans (CF), Lewis Leigh (CM)
Released: Ben Woodburn (CM), Greg Cunningham (LB)
QPR
Released: Ossie Kakay (RB), Albert Adomah (W), Jordan Archer (GK), Andre Dozzell (CM), Aaron Drewe (CB), Stephen Duke-McKenna (CM)
Sheffield United
Released: Chris Basham (CB), George Baldock (RB), Oliver Norwood (CM), Wes Foderingham (GK), Max Lowe (LB)
Sheffield Wednesday
Offered new contracts: Barry Bannan (CM), Cameron Dawson (GK), Di’Shon Bernard (CB), Dominic Iorfa (CB), Liam Palmer (RB), Will Vaulks (CM), Josh Windass (F)
Released: Lee Gregory (ST, joined Mansfield), Tyreeq Bakinson (CM), George Byers (CM), Juan Delgado (W), Reece James (LB, joined Rotherham)
Stoke City
Released: Wesley (CF), Tyrese Campbell (CF), Ciaran Clark (CB), Tom Edwards (RB), D’Margio Wright-Phillips (W), Tom Sparrow (CM), Blondy Nna Noukeu (GK), Ben Kershaw (DM), Kahrel Reddin (W), Sonny Singh (CM), Tom Curl (RB), Ian Kamga (LB)
Sunderland
Offered new contract: Cuba Mitchell (CM), Daniel Cameron (GK), Henry Fieldson (CB), Jenson Jones (RB), Luke Bell (CB), Tom Lavery (CM)
Released: Corry Evans (CB/CM), Ellis Taylor (CM), Jack Diamond (W), Bradley Dack (F), Ben Creamer (W), Callum Wilson (RB), Connor Pye (CM), Daniel Obolo (W), Harry Gardiner (CF), Jayden Sekete (RB), Joe Ryder (LB), Kailem Beattie (LB), Michael Spellman (W), Thomas Chiabi (CM)
Swansea City
Offered new contracts: Jamie Paterson (AM), Richard Faakye (CB/CM)
Released: Liam Walsh (CM), Przemyslaw Placheta (LB/LW), Nathanael Ogbeta (LB, joined Plymouth Argyle), Lewis Webb (GK), Ben Blythe (CB), Josh Carey (CM), Ruben Davies (CF), Kian Jenkins (LB), Kai Ludvigsen (CB), Archie Matthews (GK), Lincoln McFayden (LB), Remy Mitchell (GK), Joe Thomas (RB), Charlie Veevers (CM), Jack Cooper (CB), Rohan Davies (CF), Ewan Griffiths (GK), Cameron Llewellyn (CB)
Released: Ben Hamer (GK), Jake Livermore (CM), Ashley Fletcher (ST)
West Brom
Offered new contracts: Kyle Bartley (CB), Cedric Kipre (CB), Alex Mowatt (CM), Reyes Cleary (F), Ethan Ingram (RB), Ted Cann (GK), Fenton Heard (CM), Evan Humphries (LB), Archie Kirton (W), Deago Nelson (RB), Adriel Walker (W)
Released: Matty Phillips (W), Adam Reach (W), Nathaniel Chalobah (DM), Erik Pieters (LB/CB), Yann M’Vila (CM), Martin Kelly (CB), Jovan Malcolm (F), Jamie Andrews (CM), Bradley Foster (GK), Aaron Harper-Bailey (CB), Narel Phillips (CB), Ruben Shakpoke (CF), Cheick Kone (CF), Jenson Sumnall (CB)