Transfer window big board: World Cup stars, top free

With the summer transfer window opening, we’re teeing up the wheeling and dealing by presenting players who could earn big money by shining at the World Cup, along with the best free agents available on the market.

👉 Jump to: World Cup | Free agents

Note: Player values provided by transfermarkt.

World Cup players to watch

Signing players on the back of breakout World Cup performances is always a risky proposition.

Sometimes you hit the jackpot, like when Arsenal acquired Gilberto Silva from Atletico Mineiro for just £4.5 million after he helped Brazil win the 2002 title. And on other occasions, you splash around £63 million after becoming enchanted by James Rodriguez’s iconic 2014 goal and seeing him look like prime Zinedine Zidane for a few weeks. That one didn’t work out great for Real Madrid.

Dozens of players will move this summer after putting forth strong displays at the World Cup. Some will shine at their new clubs, while others, for a variety of reasons, will fail to justify the hype and significant transfer fees.

Rising stars

Diomande arrived at this summer’s tournament as a highly touted youngster who’s expected to add millions to his already hefty price tag. It took him one game to make good on those predictions. The winger was a menace in the Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador, creating five chances, completing four successful dribbles, and winning 11 duels en route to Man of the Match honors. Liverpool and PSG, two of Diomande’s primary suitors, probably wish they could’ve sealed a deal before the World Cup.

Bouaddi stole the show in midfield against Brazil, of all teams, in his World Cup debut for Morocco. Exciting Germany left-back Brown, meanwhile, scored in his team’s 7-1 win over Curacao and is reportedly on the verge of a €55-million switch to Bayern Munich.

Mora became the youngest player to ever feature for Mexico at the World Cup when he came off the bench in El Tri’s tournament opener. He recently signed a new deal with Liga MX side Club Tijuana that runs until 2029, but it includes scalable release clauses that create a path for the midfield prodigy to depart if an attract offer arrives.

Established performers

Alvarez is at the center of an amusing public feud between city rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who swiftly rejected Los Blancos’ mammoth €150-million bid. Rodri is another player with Atletico Madrid ties who could yet end up at the Bernabeu this summer if Florentino Perez can pry him away from Manchester City. Tchouameni, who got into a physical altercation with teammate Federico Valverde prior to the World Cup, could be sacrificed by Real Madrid to make room for the former Ballon d’Or winner in midfield.

As for Man City, they’ve had an offer worth over £100 million for Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest, but they may return with an improved bid.

Rashford is worth monitoring. Barcelona are unlikely to make his loan move permanent after spending €80 million on Anthony Gordon, though it remains to be seen if the England forward has any interest in returning to parent club Manchester United, considering how that relationship deteriorated.

Over in Serie A, Leao has made it known that he’d like to leave AC Milan this summer in search of a new challenge, while Juventus are trying to land both Sorloth and Martinez in an effort turn their fortunes around.

There are also several players not at the World Cup who could command hefty transfer fees this summer, including:

• Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
• Mateus Fernandes (West Ham)
• Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
• Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
• Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Savinho (Manchester City)
• Marco Palestra (Atalanta)

Best available free agents

A number of high-profile players whose contracts expired this summer are also looking for new clubs going into the 2026-27 club season. Some will be on display during the World Cup, while others either didn’t qualify or weren’t selected by their respective nations.

Salah is arguably the most notable free agent this summer, though multiple clubs are also circling around the likes of Lewandowski and Silva. The former Barcelona striker is being chased by the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, while the Portuguese midfielder is reportedly close to joining compatriot Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

Modric and Dybala are two particularly interesting cases. Both players have options to extend their contracts at AC Milan and Roma, respectively, but those haven’t yet been triggered as all options remain on the table.

Vlahovic represents something of a rarity on the free-agent market: a relatively young striker with a proven track record of scoring. But the Serbian is coming off a disappointing and injury-hit campaign at Juventus, which appears to have cratered his market.