Pogba, Sterling and Sancho headline big names still without clubs after deadline day
The summer transfer window may have closed across Europe's top leagues, but plenty of big names are still out there with no club.
Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho are still looking for a way after deadline day passed without a deal.
That feels striking in a summer when money flew everywhere.
Premier League clubs spent about £3.46 billion. That broke the summer spending record for the year in a row. Big moves with players like Enzo Fernandez and Bradley Barcola pushed the total higher.
Players such as Yan Diomande, Rodri and Goncalo Ramos were all involved in deals elsewhere in Europe.. Even in a market that moved so fast some well‑known players were left behind.
Paul Pogba is an example. The World Cup winner left Monaco after his contract was ended after one season. He played six games last year five of those from the bench. Now he seems to be attracting interest from MLS as he looks for a challenge
Raheem Sterling is also in limbo. The former England winger has no club after his Chelsea contract ended and after a spell at Feyenoord he could not revive things. At 31 he is no longer being talked about with the excitement as before but his current situation still feels jarring given the level he once reached.
Jadon Sancho’s story is not much cleaner. After loan spells with Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa, Manchester United eventually cut ties with him well. He is now said to be keeping himself fit using the facilities at Flixton FC while interest from the side Al Rayyan has so far failed to turn into anything concrete.
A years ago these were players who could dominate transfer conversation. Now they are still waiting after the window has already slammed shut.
Names like Yves Bissouma, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riyad Mahrez, Dani Carvajal, Mauro Icardi and David Alaba are also still in situations as the season moves on without them. I am curious about their steps.
Even if the traditional transfer window is over September can still bring movement for players in this position for clubs willing to gamble on experience, pedigree or a late‑career reset.
So the story is not. It is definitely getting more uncomfortable, for some very famous names.
