The transfer window slammed shut in dramatic fashion as Alexander Isak completed a blockbuster £125 million move to Liverpool.

The summer just about ended in success for the 25-year-old, though this was not the case for all footballers, many of whom were left without clubs.

Here are 10 players who many do not realise are still free agents.

Rui Patrício

The veteran goalkeeper made 112 appearances in the Premier League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, but now finds himself without a club following a short stint at Al Ain during the Club World Cup.

Patrício had been playing fairly regularly until last season, meaning he should not have lost too much of his sharpness. The shot-stopper has played 27 times in the Champions League and a staggering 108 times for Portugal.

It is utterly inexplicable that nobody has picked him up. Perhaps he will move to the Saudi Pro League, as their window is still open.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu looked fairly impressive during his time at Arsenal, but his injuries eventually became too much for Mikel Arteta and co. to overlook.

What is surprising is that another team, under slightly less pressure than Arsenal, have not decided to take a risk and sign the Japanese defender. He is incredibly versatile and, like Patrício, offers good European and international experience.

Once he can prove his fitness, the defender would be a great addition to any team in the top 5 European leagues.

Jason Denayer

After coming through Manchester City’s academy, Jason Denayer went on to play for Celtic and Sunderland before embarking on a long and successful career outside of the United Kingdom.

But, at just 30 years old, he finds himself as a free agent. The centre-back is another player who has struggled with injuries, but shown clear quality when fit, hence why he consistently received Belgium caps in an era where the Red Devils had Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld at the back.

He has spent the last few years in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and it looks like he is holding out for a move to the Middle East this summer, though the transfer window in his homeland is also still open.

Josh Ruffels

Although Josh Ruffels may be a lesser-known name relative to others on this list, it is still equally surprising that he has not found a club.

At 31 years old, he is in his physical prime. He also has great experience, having played 201 games in the third tier, as well as over 50 games in the Championship and League Two. Thirdly, Ruffels has the advantage of being left-footed, which is always useful for teams who want to create different passing angles.

The Oxford-born man will surely get picked up in the coming weeks as EFL clubs look to fill the final gaps in their squads.

Sergio Reguilón

Sergio Reguilón arrived in England with the footballing world at his fingertips after lighting up La Liga and winning the Europa League with Sevilla.

However, the left-back has become completely and utterly lost during his time contracted to Tottenham Hotspur. Last season, he made just six appearances for Spurs despite their severe defensive injuries.

The former Spanish international needs to find regular game time in order to reignite his career, as he has the talent to compete at the elite level. However, he may be another who is holding out for a big-money Saudi move.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is still reportedly Arsenal’s record sale, is another who has surprisingly found himself as a free agent.

He left England for the first time in the summer of 2023, but his move to Beşiktaş has not quite gone to plan. Nevertheless, Oxlade-Chamberlain has the profile of a player that a newly-promoted club would normally take a risk on.

‘The Ox’, as he is sometimes nicknamed due to his impressive physicality, has struggled for regular starts throughout his entire career, but has shown his underlying ability numerous times.

The 32-year-old is surely too good for the Championship, meaning another stint abroad is likely, potentially in Mexico.

Jonjo Shelvey

Jonjo Shelvey is another former England international who is without a club, though he perhaps has slightly less pedigree than Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The midfielder played just 10 games last season across spells in England and Turkey.

Whilst he is probably past his footballing peak and not quite good enough for the Premier League, he could offer invaluable leadership, experience and technical ability to an EFL side, having played 278 games in the top tier.

Maybe a move back to boyhood club Charlton Athletic or another of his former teams, Blackpool, could prove useful.

Christian Eriksen

It is no secret that Manchester United fans became increasingly critical of Christian Eriksen’s performances during his time at Old Trafford. But that is because they are holding him to the standards that they expect of a Man United midfielder.

The Danish international would be more than capable for a number of sides across Europe, though he perhaps lacks the physicality to compete in the Premier League these days.

One factor to consider is that some leagues do not allow players with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, the device that Eriksen got fitted following his cardiac arrest in 2020, to play, thus limiting the Danish legend’s choice of clubs.

Hakim Ziyech

Hakim Ziyech arrived in England with a huge reputation, having been utterly dominant in the Netherlands for the past seven seasons.

However, his time at Chelsea did not go to plan. After a short period of success at Galatasaray, he found himself in the Qatari Stars League at the end of last season.

The versatile attacker surely has enough technical ability to be able to thrive in Europe, and, at 32 years old, he should still be passable physically.

He looks like another player who is heading for a move to the Middle East. But, he could also potentially take an André-Pierre Gignac-esque route and move to Mexico.

Hakeeb Adelakun

The list finishes with another player who is surely destined for the EFL.

Ultimately, Hakeeb Adelakun looks to have been poorly advised this summer.

Over the last 18 months, the versatile attacker has been playing arguably the best football of his entire career. Due to that, he decided to leave Salford City, despite being offered a contract by the club, likely trying to get a move to a higher level.

But we are now six games into the league season, and the 29-year-old is somehow still a free agent. One hopes that he is given an opportunity to impress imminently.