A collection of ex-Manchester United and Liverpool stars worth a combined £65million – according to their most recent transfer fees – are still available on the free agent market, despite the fact Premier League teams are already two matches into the new season.
Here, Express Sport takes you through five former United players and six former Liverpool men who are still searching for their next employers…
Manchester United
Memphis Depay
The Dutch forward has had a curious career since signing for United in a £31m deal nearly a decade ago. Depay was amongst the goals at Lyon and Barcelona, but Atletico still nabbed him for only £2.6m last year, and his stint in the Spanish capital lasted a single season. Now 30 years old, Depay was a regular for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 but is yet to find his next club.
Juan Mata
The former United and Chelsea man most recently played for Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe, who signed him as a free agent on a short-term contract last September. All Mata managed was 10 minutes in a single substitute cameo, and at 36 years old he’s back on the market.
Anthony Martial
The jury is out on whether Martial fulfilled his potential after joining United in a £44.7m move from AS Monaco in 2015. He left Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract in June with 90 goals in 317 games on his record. But persistent injury woes have blighted him in recent years, and a team is yet to take a gamble on the 28-year-old.
Josh King
With a more than respectable return of 36 Premier League goals for Bournemouth between 2016 and 2019, former United academy product King is a proven scorer in the English top flight. The 32-year-old has also enjoyed spells at Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Watford. His most recent stint came at Fenerbahce, who signed him as a free agent and released him this summer.
Brandon Williams
The full-back could still have a promising future in the game at just 23 years old, but it won’t be at Old Trafford. The United academy graduate made 51 appearances for the Red Devils and spent last season on loan at Ipswich Town, but he is currently unattached.
Liverpool
Joel Matip
A fan favourite at Liverpool after completing a free transfer from Schalke in 2016, Matip’s final season at Anfield was ruined by injury and he is yet to find a new home after being released in June.
Loris Karius
Infamous for his mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, Liverpool signed goalkeeper Karius from Mainz for just under £5m in 2016. He was last seen at Newcastle United, where he was Eddie Howe’s third-choice stopper last season.
Sheyi Ojo
Tricky winger Ojo was an exciting prospect when he broke into Liverpool’s senior side in 2015, but he never managed to nail down a spot in the starting XI. Seven loan spells away from Anfield were followed by a free move to Cardiff City two years ago, but it didn’t work out, and the 27-year-old is still waiting to be snapped up.
Rafael Camacho
The Portuguese winger was so highly-rated during his time at Liverpool that Sporting Lisbon paid around £5m to take him off their hands in 2019. A succession of loan spells followed and Camacho never lived up to his billing. At 24, he is on the lookout for his next move.
Ovie Ejaria
Once considered the next big thing to emerge from Liverpool’s academy, Ejaria fled to Reading for £3.5m in search of regular minutes in 2020. That’s exactly what he got, playing 72 games for the Royals, but his contract was terminated by mutual consent last December and the 26-year-old has been without a club for eight months.
Victor Moses
The Nigerian international boasts a Premier League title, two Europa Leagues, an AFCON win and a Russian Cup as he heads into the twilight of an accomplished career. Moses spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Liverpool before returning to Chelsea. His most recent move, to Spartak Moscow, netted the Blues £4m, though the 33-year-old is available once again after 83 appearances in four seasons.
