Best FIFA 22 free agents & contract expiry players to sign on Career Mode

It’s important to make the right signings in your FIFA 22 Career Mode save early on. With the first signing window set to open up plenty of opportunities with new free agents and players on contract expiry, here’s the few you need to keep an eye out for.

On the Career Mode side of FIFA 22, there are plenty of new players to try and get on your squad. The best ones to look out for are those with upcoming contract expiries.

If you time it correctly, you’ll be able to scout away a big-name talent without having to pay a transfer fee. Instead, you’ll get them on a pre-contract agreement — in their last six months, they’ll agree to sign for your club for free once their initial contract ends.

With the Summer transfer window now over, there are plenty of star signings to nab at the end of it all in FIFA 22. Here are the top players with expiring contracts, and the best free agents you need to look out for.

Top FIFA 22 Career Mode players with contracts expiring in 2021-2022

Best contract expiry goalkeepers and defenders

The thing with FIFA 22 Career Mode is that the younger they are, the better they’ll be. Growth is a very overpowered stat in Career Mode, as your young stars will quickly overtake your ironed-on starters.

• Read More: FIFA 22 fastest players: Strikers, wingers, midfielders & defenders

So when it comes to looking for players nearing the end of their contract, you can sometimes find a bargain on these younger players — especially if they’re in smaller clubs, or aren’t first-choice players. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa (FC Porto) and defender Hugo Siquet (Standard Liege) embody that.

However, there are some great older options that can instantly slot into your line-up when their contracts are up. Thomas Strakosha, Niklas Sule, and Antonio Rudiger fit the mold perfectly — and they’re all up for contract renewal in 2022.

There are some other potential options: Hugo Lloris is out of contract in 2022, and if he doesn’t choose to retire he might have another 1-2 years in him for your club. Same goes for Juan Cuadrado after his stint at Juventus (Piemonte Calcio).

If you’re looking for someone younger, Atlanta United’s George Bello is a great pickup for a growing club — and he’s available for free in the first window with a 2021 contract expiry. Argentine keeper Jeronimo Pourtau is also another solid cheap, young signing.

Best contract expiry midfielders

Midfielders-wise, there’s plenty of central players to choose from to add to your squad in your first or second season. Pedri, Paul Pogba, Franck Kessie, Boubacar Kamara, Lorenzo Pellegrini — all these players are up for grabs in 2022.

• Read More: Best center-backs to buy in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team

However. the biggest revelation on this list is Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho. If you are aware of this kid (and aren’t playing any hardcore Career Mode rules), you should sign him in just about every save. He’s cheap, and once he hits his potential, he’s one of the best midfielders in the game. You might have to snap him up quickly before his contract gets renewed though.

It gets a bit more awkward as you look wider though. Truth be told, you’re much better opting for a winger instead of a LM or RM. There are still some options though, like Roberto Alvarado or Norwich’s Todd Cantwell.

Some MLS options like Alexandru Matan and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty are open. If you want players with expiring contracts in 2021, that’s the league to look out for in general.

Best contract expiry wingers and strikers

You cannot talk about near-to-exiting strikers without bringing up cover star Kylian Mbappe. His 95 Potential is one of the highest in the game, and he could be yours once his contract expires in 2022 (if you are using a big-name club that can afford his wages).

However, he’s not the only big name up for grabs. Ansu Fati and Paulo Dybala also only have a year on their contracts, and could make great signings ahead of the second Summer window.

Where the real value lies up front though is in pacey, young options. Giacomo Raspadori and Adam Hlozek can slot into any side’s starting 11 from the moment you sign them.

However, if you can wait a couple of years, it’s good to sit on someone like Bournemouth’s Morgan Rogers. He is a great snatch-up at under £1 million for anyone looking to climb from the lower leagues. Basel’s Esposito has a bit more bench-rotation quality from the moment you sign if you need someone from Day 1.

Best FIFA 22 Free Agents to sign

Even though free agents won’t cost you a dime to sign, and you’ll have access to them immediately (no pre-contract agreements here), you do have to keep an eye on your wage bill. Just because they’re really highly rated and have no transfer fees attached doesn’t mean you can afford them.

• Read More: Best FIFA 22 young players to sign on Career Mode

That means, despite them being available in FIFA 22 as free agents, you might want to steer clear of picks like David Luiz, Jack Wilshere, and Serge Aurier (although the latter is decent if you can afford near to his previous wages).

You might only get a season or two out of some of these picks — but some can last you an entire career mode. Take a look at a player’s age when considering what your squad needs.

Plus, if you get a young star and develop them, you can sell them on for a huge profit once they’re maxed out.

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That’s all there is to the free agents and contract expiry list in FIFA 22 Career Mode.

However, if you’re looking for some more great pickups, check out our guides to the best Career Mode wonderkids, and find some more bargains.