Which Serie A Stars Are Out Of Contract In 2026? Several Sides At Risk Of Losing Huge Names For Free

The January 2026 transfer window is fast approaching and each of the 20 teams in Serie A will be looking deep into their squad to determine which players are worthy of a new contract.

Bringing in some fresh faces could prove vital, but keeping a hold of star players is another vital aspect of the January window – as players that are out of contract can complete pre-contract agreements.

Soccer contracts have seen a host of changes in recent years, with the likes of Chelsea offering players deals that span over eight-years and helping with FFP parameters.

Combine this with issues around agents and you have a difficult process to deal with, which is why clubs often let deals run for as long as possible – unless the player is irreplaceable.

This time frame for expiring deals in 2026 is slowly dwindling and there are a host of players that could be allowed to leave for free next year.

Best Serie A Players That Are Out Of Contract In 2026

• Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Inter Milan
• Francesco Acerbi – Inter Milan
• Matteo Darmian – Inter Milan
• Stefan De Vrij – Inter Milan
• Mike Maignan – AC Milan
• Luka Modric – AC Milan
• Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus
• Weston McKennie – Juventus
• Lorenzo Pellegrini – Roma
• Paulo Dybala – Roma
• Pedro – Lazio
• Leonardo Spinazzola – Napoli
• Marten de Roon – Atalanta
• Sergi Roberto – Como
• Ciro Immobile – Bologna
• Edin Dzeko – Fiorentina

Inter Milan

Inter Milan have enjoyed a strong opening to the 2025/26 season both on and off the pitch, as the Nerazzurri sit top of Serie A while also acquiring the San Siro.

Cristian Chivu has managed to turn things around after an underwhelming start to the season, as the Italian side have also been flawless in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri are expected to remain relatively quiet in terms of additions during the January transfer window, but Chivu will have some decisions to make over extended contracts.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian and Stefan De Vrij are all out of contract in June 2026, which could lead to a huge chunk of experience being lost.

Inter’s new ethos over offering contracts to players over 30 means that these four players could be on their way out next summer, as Mkhitaryan is expected to retire if the Italian side do not extend his deal.

AC Milan

Moving over to the other half of Milan now and Massimiliano Allegri could lose two starting players for free next year, as Mike Maignan and Luka Modric are out of contract in June.

The Croatian midfielder moved to the San Siro at the beginning of this season and has been an instant hit, which may play a part in his decision over activating a one-year extension.

On the other hand, Maignan looked certain to leave the Rossoneri during the summer transfer window, after agreeing personal terms with Chelsea – making an extended deal unlikely.

Juventus 

Juventus also have some important choices to make in January, as Luciano Spalletti will enter his first transfer window in Turin after replacing Igor Tudor.

The Bianconeri are at risk of losing two star names in June next year, with Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie still considering a move elsewhere.

Vlahovic looked set to leave Juve during the summer transfer window, but a move failed to materialize and the Serbian has made a steady start to the season – scoring three goals in Serie A.

As for McKennie, leaving Juventus in 2026 appears to be the most likely outcome as the USMNT star looks to complete a move back to his home nation.

Roma

The Giallorossi have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far, sitting second in Serie A and aiming for their first Scudetto in 25-years under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Having such positivity around the club will please the Italian coach, but Gasperini will need to secure the future of two players in January – as Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini could leave next year.

Dybala has been Roma’s star man for multiple seasons and is well-regarded by the Giallorossi manager, however, the Argentine’s injury battles could be a key factor in contract negotiations.

The former Juventus star has missed six matches through injury already this year and these absences have been caused by the same hamstring issue.

Pellegrini’s contract situation may come to a simpler conclusion, as the 29-year-old is not expected to be a regular member of Gasperini’s starting eleven going forward.

Several other players in Serie A will be able to leave as a free agent next summer and the January window could bring a plethora of pre-contract agreements.

How Do Pre-Contract Agreements Work In Soccer?

A pre-contract agreement has become increasingly more common in soccer due to the intricacies in player’s deals and is often referred to as a ‘Bosman transfer’.

Essentially, if a player has under six-months remaining on their current contract then they can agree a new contract with a different club, securing their future for another season.

Players will often complete a pre-contract agreement after receiving news from their current club over an extended deal, or if the move away is a major upgrade.

Although it is a contractual agreement, both parties can pull out of the deal before the start of the new season and sometimes leaves individuals in precarious positions.

A pre-contract agreement does not mean the player instantly signs for a new team and the individual must fulfill the length of his current contract before completing the move ahead of the next season.

For example, if Paulo Dybala agreed to a pre-contract with another club in January, he would finish the 2025/26 season with Roma and move on during the 2027 summer transfer window.