Gaming
Games
13 best free agents on FIFA 19
Strengthen your squad with these hidden gems without spending a penny.
There’s nothing worse than starting a new career in FIFA 19 with your favourite club, only to find that you’ve hardly got any transfer budget. This is often the case for smaller teams and therefore, to bolster your squad, you might need to look towards the free agents who are unsigned and won’t cost you anything. You’ll still have to fork out for their wages of course, but when it comes to the upfront fee, you’ll be getting off scot free.
There’s one important caveat to mention though. In FIFA 19’s career mode, all free agents rated 70+ are randomly assigned to a team at the start of your game. This means that players like Leandro Paredes and Andreas Granqvist – solid players with 80+ ratings – will be handed on a plate to an appropriate team that matches their skill level. As a result, we’ve got all of the FIFA 19 free agents who are rated 69 or below, because those are the only ones you’ll be able to sign for free right at the start of your game.
1. Hannes Thór Halldórsson (GK, Iceland: 69 OVR)
You'll be doing the thunderclap if you bag Hannes Thor Halldorsson
© EA Sports
First up in our list of the best free agents in FIFA 19 is Hannes Thór Halldórsson, the first choice goalkeeper for the Iceland national team. In real life, he plays for Qarabag in the Azerbaijan Premier League, but they’re not in FIFA 19 so he’s left to the wayside. He’s perhaps most well known for saving a penalty from Lionel Messi during the 2018 World Cup, but in FIFA 19 he’s rocking 71 Reflexes, 70 Diving and 69 Positioning. Not bad for a free pick up.
2. Badra Ali Sangaré (GK, Ivory Coast: 69 OVR)
The Ivorian stopper is a safe pair of hands
© EA Sports
The other goalkeeper we can recommend for free is Badra Ali Sangaré, a 32-year-old stopper from the Ivory Coast. He represents Free State Stars in real life, a South African team in the top flight. He’s rocking 73 Diving, 68 Reflexes and 68 Positioning in FIFA 19 so if you don’t fancy or can’t get Halldorsson for any reason, Sangaré is another great option.
3. Ali Gabr (CB, Egypt: 68 OVR)
Baggies fans might recognise Gabi from a six month stint at the Hawthorns
© EA Sports
Hailing from Egypt is Ali Gabr, a 29-year-old centre back. If you’re a West Brom fan, you may remember him from his short loan spell last season, but he didn’t feature in the first team during his six months with the Baggies. He also played for Egypt at the 2018 World Cup. Right now, he plays for Pyramids FC in his home nation and in FIFA 19, he’s got some impressive stats – 78 Strength, 75 Slide Tackles, 72 Marking and 71 Standing Tackles are the highlights. When combined with his height at 6ft 3”, he is, without a doubt, one of the best options out there on a free.
4. Vinícius (CB, Hungary: 69 OVR)
Brazil-born Vinicius will add some steel to any defence
© EA Sports
Paulo Vinícius, known as just Vinícius in FIFA 19, is a 28-year-old centre-back. Despite being born in Brazil, he represents Hungary at national level and currently plays for the Hungarian club MOL Vidi. His stats are fantastic; 78 Strength, 74 Standing Tackles, 72 Sprint Speed and 72 Reactions make him a force to be reckoned with in defence. Pick up both him and Gabr and you can have a decent defensive partnership for free.
5. Gergo Lovrencsics (RB, Hungary: 68 OVR)
Lovrencsics is a pacy full-back
© EA Sports
Another player from Hungary, Gergő Lovrencsics is a fast full-back with 86 Pace as well as a high attacking work rate, meaning he can bomb up and down the flank. He also boasts 85 Jumping, 80 Shot Power and 78 Agility.
Lovrencsics plays for in the Hungarian league in real life, this time for Ferencváros, and has made 16 appearances for the Hungarian national team, scoring one goal.
6. Sifiso Hlanti (LB, South Africa: 68 OVR)
You might not have heard of Hlanti, but he's a great addition to any squad
© EA Sports
Sifiso Hlanti is a much more defensive minded full-back, with 76 Standing Tackles and 70 Marking. He also boasts 75 Crossing and 72 Pace, though, so if you need him to help out at the other end of the pitch, he’s more than capable. He plays for Bidvest Wits FC in South Africa, and has made 10 appearances for the national team.
7. Georges Mandjeck (CDM, Cameroon: 69 OVR)
The serial Europa League player could be the defensive shield you need
© EA Sports
Georges Mandjeck has played for some big clubs in his career, including VfB Stuttgart, Rennes, Auxerre, and Sparta Prague. He’s now on loan at Maccabi Haifa though and since they’re not in FIFA 19, he’s a free agent. If you recall the 2008 Summer Olympics, you may remember Mandjeck for being sent off for his stamp on Italy’s Antonio Nocerino. In FIFA 19 he’s a true box-to-box midfielder with 83 Stamina, 79 Aggression, 78 Strength, 74 Agility and 72 Pace.
8. Hlompho Kekana (CDM, South Africa: 69 OVR)
Enjoy scoring screamers? Kekana's your man
© Fifa 19/Electronic Arts
The second player from South Africa, Hlompho Kekana is a CDM with some incredible stats. He has a real eye for goal with 88 Shot Power and 86 Long Shots; the guy can bang them in from anywhere!
He’s 33-years-old but he still has good Stamina (84) and Aggression (81). In real life, he’s scored five goals for South Africa in 24 appearances, and in 2012 he scored seven goals in one game as his team won a game 24-0. Right now he’s the captain of Mamelodi Sundowns and in 2016, he was nominated for the Puskás Award after scoring from 65 yards out against Cameroon. You’d be foolish not to pick up Hlompho Kekana.
9. Dean Furman (CM, South Africa: 67 OVR)
The free midfield engine your team needs
© EA Sports
Dean Furman grew up playing football in the UK, as a youth player at Chelsea followed by Rangers, Bradford City, Oldham Athletic and Doncaster Rovers. He’s now at SuperSport United in South Africa, though, back where he was born. He’s another example of a player who won’t stop working all game with 91 Stamina. Combined with his 83 Aggression and 72 Strength, Furman is a great option in the middle of the park.
10. Horacio Calcaterra (Peru, RM: 68 OVR)
The robust Peruvian can fill any midfield gap
© EA Sports
Over to South America now for Horacio Calcaterra, a 29-year-old Peruvian who has made almost 200 appearances for Sporting Cristal in real life. He plays on the right side of midfield and is a well rounded player with 75 Stamina, 74 Short Passing, 72 Ball Control and 72 Crossing. Calcaterra is a great option if you want someone robust who can fill in whenever he’s needed.
11. Osvaldo Ruisalvo (LM, Paraguay: 69 OVR)
We can't find him online, but he'll certainly not go missing during a game
© EA Sports
Osvaldo Ruisalvo is the only player who we can’t find online, so we’re not sure which club he plays for. What we do know is that he’s 26-years-old, comes from Paraguay and is a great option on the left side of midfield. He has 84 Balance, 81 Agility and 74 Pace; not bad for a guy who seemingly doesn’t exist in real life, right?
12. Apostolos Giannou (ST, Australia: 69 OVR)
Make sure to search out this target man in the transfer window
© EA Sports
Apostolos Giannou played for Greece before switching to the Australian national team, where he’s since made six appearances and scored once. In real life he’s been at a number of top Greek clubs suck as PAOK and Asteras Tripoli, but now he’s at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.
He's 6ft 1” with 75 Heading Accuracy and 71 Jumping, so whip in those lofted crosses and he’ll bury them. He’s also got 75 Strength, 73 Finishing and 72 Attacking Positioning so while he’s not particularly fast, he’s a good target man.
13. Sunil Chhetri (ST, India: 67 OVR)
Let Chhetri add some firepower to your front line
© EA Sports
The final player on our list of best free agents is Sunil Chhetri, a 34-year-old striker from India. He’s an absolute goalscoring machine in real life, banging in 65 goals in 103 appearances for the national team, along with 122 goals in 235 games in his club career. He’s left the Indian leagues just twice; once for Kansas City Wizards in the MLS before returning to India, and then for Sporting CP B in the LigaPro in Portugal.
In FIFA 19 he’s got 74 Pace, 76 Balance, 73 Penalties and 71 Finishing so on a free transfer, Captain Fantastic is a good transfer.
