The list of high-profile players whose contracts expire in summer 2024 is not quite as impressive as it was a year ago, but there are still some big-name stars whose futures are far from being resolved.
The saga around Kylian Mbappé‘s potential move to Real Madrid continues, though sources have told ESPN he’s in talks over signing a new deal. The usual array of ageing players such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos make another appearance as they enter the final year of their contracts, but there are some youngsters who could be snapped up for nothing if they don’t put pen to paper soon.
Here’s a rundown of the most coveted, not including those like Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan-Bissaka who have a club option to extend by another year.
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Kylian Mbappé, 24, FW, Paris Saint-Germain
One of the sagas of last summer. Mbappé signed a new three-year deal in 2022, spurning a free transfer to Real Madrid in the process, but it was revealed later that it was a two-year contract with a third year eligible only if the France international activated it. He chose not to and told club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi he wanted to leave, which saw him exiled from the first-team squad during the preseason tour in Japan.
PSG were open to offers and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League made a world-record €300m bid, which was accepted by the club but rejected by Mbappé.
Eventually, the signing of Mbappé’s friend Ousmane Dembélé and the €90m exit of Neymar persuaded the 24-year-old to change his mind. He agreed to sign new terms — likely containing a release clause of around €100m to €150m — so the club can get a transfer fee when he does depart. Those terms have yet to be confirmed, so watch this space, but it’s likely he’ll be a Madrid player in the next six months — if they’ll have him.
