Rabiot Joins Marseille: The Most Valuable Free Agents in Football History
Adrien Rabiot’s future has been a hot topic all summer, and finally, the 29-year-old has found a new home. The French midfielder has signed a two-year deal with Marseille, putting an end to the speculation surrounding his next move.
Rabiot was linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, Barcelona, and Manchester United, but he’s decided to return to his homeland to join Marseille. The move is a significant coup for the French club, who are looking to challenge for the Ligue 1 title under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
But Rabiot’s move is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s the 15th most valuable player to join a club on a free transfer, with a market value of €35 million. But who are the most valuable free agents in football history?
The Most Valuable Players to Move on Free Transfers
Unsurprisingly, Kylian Mbappé takes top spot with a market value of €180m when he joined Real Madrid this summer. Mbappé’s move was one of the most protracted sagas in history, but he finally left PSG after his contract expired.
But Lionel Messi held the record for the most valuable player to move clubs on a free transfer after his famous move to PSG in 2021. Messi’s market value was a staggering €250m at the time of his move.
The top three deals all involve French champions PSG, with Gianluigi Donnarumma ranking third after his move to Paris when his contract at AC Milan expired. David Alaba’s decision to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid and Robert Lewandowski swapping Bundesliga giants complete the top five.
Paul Pogba left Manchester United twice on free transfers, but his return to Juventus ranks seventh when the former French international was valued at €48m. Interestingly, Rabiot features twice in the top twenty list – as he was also valued at €35m when he moved from PSG to Juventus on a free in 2019.
The Verdict
Rabiot’s move to Marseille is a significant coup for the French club, and it’s a reminder that even the biggest clubs can’t always hold onto their stars. As the transfer window continues to heat up, we’ll be keeping a close eye on all the latest moves and rumors.
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