In the summer of 2022 a massive 100 players across Europe see their current contracts expire. With 16 of them valued at over €20 million by Transfermarkt, there is surfacing a trend of players in their prime looking to move clubs for free.
But why is this happening?
The covid 19 pandemic has severely dented the finances of football clubs, rendering them unable to renegotiate new deals for players which require a signing bonus in addition to an inflated wage. This has put the selling clubs in a weak position.
The buying clubs haven't taken advantage due to their own financial situation. Unable to pay a transfer fee in addition to player signing-on fees and wages, the superclubs have kept quiet.
But there is evidence to prove that this trend would have surfaced even in absence of COVID. Free transfers can put all the power of negotiation in the hands of the players. This ensures higher signing-on fees and wages compared to paid transfers. This is not as negative as it sounds.
Blockbuster transfers goes a long way in boosting global brand values of clubs. The biggest beneficiaries here are the club owners and player agents who negotiate the transfers. The player meanwhile gets his signing-on fee and wages only. Although this isn't meager by any means, it's a very small fraction of what benefits the owners reap out the player. For example, despite earning €600,000 a week at PSG, Neymar hasn't earned his transfer fee after 4 years at the club.
A simple question in the players' minds is "if this is what the market shows I'm worth, why don't I get it?"
Free transfers can urge players to demand their market value in signing-on fees. This would still represent a saving for the buying club- due to lack of a transfer fee. It's a win-win situation.
Paid transfers will continue being a part of football, with top clubs eager to make game-changing signings whenever needed. But more power in the hands of players is a step towards a fairer game. They deserve to be the true beneficiaries of the world's most popular sport.