With 2020 almost upon us, Goal picks out the top 15 players to have joined a club for nothing during the past 10 years
Getty ImagesZlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United
After a successful spell at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won 12 trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles, Ibrahimovic decided to join Manchester United in 2016.
The Swede scored 28 goals in all competitions as he helped the Old Trafford club win the League Cup, Europa League and get back into the Champions League – despite a serious injury keeping him out of the latter stages of the season.
He did return to play five matches for the Red Devils the following season, but moved on to MLS side LA Galaxy in March 2018.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMiroslav Klose to Lazio
After a difficult final season with Bayern Munich in 2010-11, Miroslav Klose was allowed to join Lazio on a free transfer.
The striker was 33 at the time but he took Italian football by storm, netting 63 times across 171 appearances for the Roman club.
Klose also claimed his final piece of silverware with Lazio, helping the Biancocelesti win the Coppa Italia in 2013.
GettyTeemu Pukki to Norwich City
The Canaries snared the Finnish striker from Brondby to spearhead their Championship campaign in 2018-19 after he failed to agree to a new contract with the Danish club.
Pukki repaid the faith with an extraordinary 29-goal campaign that helped propel Norwich into the Premier League after a three-season absence from the top flight.
The 29-year-old has impressed during his first campaign in England's top-flight, with nine goals in 20 games – including six in five to start the season.
Getty ImagesMathieu Flamini to Arsenal
Incredibly, former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger signed Mathieu Flamini twice on a free transfer – in 2004 and 2013.
The midfielder's first spell in north London ended in 2008 when left as a free agent to join Serie A side AC Milan.
But Wenger decided to bring him back from Italy five years later and Flamini went on to play a further 93 times for the Gunners, winning two FA Cups with the club before leaving for Crystal Palace in 2016.