EA Sports FC 27: 10 Best Free Agents to Sign in Career Mode

· GiveMeSport

A rundown of the best free agents available to sign in EA Sports FC 27 Career Mode, including ex-Man Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich stars

Free agents have always been Career Mode's closest thing to a cheat code, and EA Sports FC 27 raises the stakes.

Every save using the initial squads opens with the same pool of unattached players, all available without a penny going to another club, with varying degrees of quality and experience.

The catch is timing. Under FC 27 's rebuilt transfer system, even a free agent starts with an inquiry rather than a straight offer, and players left unsigned for too long will eventually retire. Dynamic OVR adds another layer, with ratings now rising and falling on form, morale and match fitness.

Of course, free agents at this stage of the year are typically older players taking stock of their next moves after a lengthy career. Here are the 10 best free agents to target from day one.

Spending a transfer fee on a back-up goalkeeper is rarely wise, which makes Souza one of the most practical signings available. The Brazilian stands 6ft 6in, has respectable goalkeeping numbers from day one, and carries an 83 potential that could eventually put him in the bracket of keepers at top clubs. Affordable wage demands make him particularly useful for sides chasing promotion.

López is the classic target man. Standing at 6ft 2in, he pairs 87 jumping with 78 heading accuracy, making him a natural outlet for crosses and direct balls. He is more than a battering ram, though, with 81 positioning and 83 finishing, giving him the instincts of a penalty-box poacher. At 25, and with an 82 potential, he can grow alongside your squad rather than simply fill a gap and be a difference-maker.

Colombia international Jhon Cordoba famously scored a screamer of a goal against Arsenal in the Europa League and his physicality could be a strong option if you need something different in the forward line. At 33, however, he is not going to be around in the game for the long haul, so his potential impact will be limited in that respect.

Unlike most of the players on the list, Fruk is the pick for long-term growth. The 25-year-old Croatian has no glaring weaknesses in the final third, with only strength and tackling lagging behind, and in his natural CAM role he can beat a man, outpace slower defenders and finish. An 84 potential gives him genuine room to grow, and FC 27's reworked form system hands bigger boosts to players with space left to climb.

Paquetá's value lies in his versatility, given an ability to play on the wing, up front or as a No.10, which makes him ideal rotation cover, especially now that FC 27 no longer penalises players operating in their secondary positions. Pace is the weak spot, but five-star skill moves and a four-star weak foot compensate, particularly with quicker runners around him. At 29, he still has several strong seasons left in him.

The least familiar name among the 80-rated group, and the most straightforward. The DR Congo international is an out-and-out striker with a balanced profile of 80 shooting, 79 pace and 79 physicality, backed by three-star skill moves and a three-star weak foot. With just one point between his OVR and potential, treat him as a ready-made alternative if Depay (see below) does not suit your system, rather than a long-term project.

The Netherlands ' all-time leading goalscorer being available is maybe the most attractive option on the list. Given he can play anywhere across the front line, and has five-star skill moves paired with a three-star weak foot, he can be a real weapon in attack. He is at his best in systems that let a striker drift wide rather than pinning him to the box, but keeping him near the goal can also work given his quick feet, skills, and finishing. An 85 potential leaves headroom above his 80 rating, and his wage demands are manageable for mid-sized clubs and above.

Once a world-class defender, he remains the only defender in this top 10, and still a sensible pick. Alaba's tackling, strength and range of passing make him ideal for sides that play out from the back. Plus, an 87 potential is unusually generous at 34, and Dynamic OVR rewards exactly what he needs: regular minutes in a settled back line.

James Rodríguez has been all across the world dazzling fans, and even at 35, he is an interesting option. He still carries the shooting, passing and dribbling of a top-level playmaker, and an 88 potential is extraordinary for a 35-year-old. The contrast is that, physically, he is on the other side, and it shows with 52 acceleration and 48 sprint speed, making him a liability on the wing despite RW being listed as an option. Keep him central and he can be utilised best.

No free agent in FC 27 starts higher than De Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan is a creator in every sense, with the passing, dribbling and pace to run a game from the No.10 role or drift out wide, while a four-star weak foot gives you quality on either side, but the trade-off is that he has already hit his ceiling. Dynamic OVR is more likely to hold him steady than push him higher, but at 83, nobody is signing him to develop. He's for the here-and-now.

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