The European top five leagues 2022/2023 season ended this weekend and the summer transfer window is now a stressful time for those involved with football, it is incredibly frantic for those players whose contracts expire at the end of this month.
Many clubs will be buzzing rebuilding their squads for the next season and some big players will leave their current clubs for free and join other clubs.
Here are some of the most valuable players who have announced their departure.
1. Lionel Messi
The Argentine forward will leave PSG this summer, after two seasons with the French Ligue 1 giants.
Messi’s contract expires this month, leaving the World Cup winner with plenty of choices on where he chooses to make his next move having been approached by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal and his former club Barcelona who also want to re-sign him.
2. Roberto Firmino
After eight years at Anfield, the Brazilian star leaves Liverpool as a legend having made a super trio alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane and winning everything with the club.
The 31-year-old has been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid and MLS clubs.
3. Karim Benzema
The French superstar made surprising news on Saturday after announcing that he will not renew his contract.
Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid 14 years after joining from Ligue 1 club Lyon.
The 35-year-old won La Liga four times and the Champions League five times in Santiago Bernabeu.
4. N’golo Kante
Kante is yet to announce a new deal at Chelsea, with the 32-year-old having endured an injury-hit season in which the Blues have struggled.
This summer could end a distinguished career at Stamford Bridge for the Champions League winner as Pochettino is looking for his replacement this summer.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The former PSG, Barcelona, and Manchester United star announced his retirement from football aged 41 on Sunday.
The Swedish striker scored 511 goals in 866 club games as well as 62 in 122 for his country
Ibrahimovic struggled with injuries this season with AC Milan and after a long football career, he has decided to hang his boots.
6. Eden Hazard
Hazard terminated his contract with Real Madrid with one year left.
The Belgium winger joined Los Blancos in 2019 from Chelsea but has struggled with back-to-back injuries in Spain.
The 32-year-old is yet to decide his future having already announced his retirement from international football with Belgium last year after a horrific World Cup campaign.
Other players include; Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) who is joining PSG, Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace) Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) Adrien Rabiot (Juventus) Naby Keita (Liverpool) Lucas Moura (Tottenham) Yerry Mina (Everton) David de Gea (Man Utd) Adama Traore (Wolves) Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) Angel Di Maria (Juventus) and Marcus Thuram (Gladbach).
