As the season gets ever closer to beginning, some players (free agents) find themselves without a club. Some serious talent remains uncontracted, and here’s a look of some of those free agents that deserve a move to a League Two side.
Jamal Blackman
31-year-old goalkeeper Jamal Blackman started for Shrewbury Town throughout the second half of the last campaign but finds himself without a club once again. Despite consistently starting in League One, Blackman’s yet to find a new club, and has featured in multiple PFA preseason matches and training groups.
Standing at nearly two metres tall, Blackman’s ariel dominance is reasonably impressive, but has found himself spending a majority of his career as a second-choice option, so will potentially be hunting for first team action with his next club.
Coming through Chelsea’s academy, he had multiple loan spells including spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield United, as well as spells abroad with Vitesse Arnhem and LAFC, but has recently found himself jumping between League One clubs on short term contracts.
Who does he suit?
Plenty of clubs are looking for first and second choice goalkeepers, as the free agents seems quite thin for goalkeepers this summer. My first recommendation is Salford City, who currently don’t have a contracted keeper and will likely offer higher wages than other League Two sides. Secondly, I’d say Cambridge United, as their only current option is Jake Eastwood, who hasn’t spent much of his career as a first-choice option, so they will likely bring in some additional depth.
Liam Shephard
Right-Back Liam Shephard left Salford City after his four-year tenure at the club, where he made 92 appearances, scoring four goals in this time. Primarily a right‑back, Shephard can also operate centrally in defence when needed, who’s known for his attacking intent, regularly pushing forward to support the attack, especially evident early in his Salford career he racked up several assists.
Injury setbacks limited appearances during his spell with The Ammies, but when fit, he made a noticeable impact, when after an eight-month injury layoff in August 2022, he returned in early 2023 with three assists in six games.
Prior to his spell at Salford, Shephard was contracted Peterborough United, Newport County and Forest Green, as well as multiple loan spells at Yeovil whilst he was a part of the Swansea City youth set-up.
Who would he suit?
Realistically, any club looking for an experienced right-back would be the perfect suitor, and on current squad depth, I believe Colchester United would be a great fit, as they have lost their regular starter in this position, who is the next man on this list.
Mandela Egbo
Egbo turned down a new deal with Colchester, due to a lower salary being offered, mostly due to Colchester’s lower budget this window, as their takeover plans did not cement. He’s already featured in a friendly for Crawley Town this summer, however, has not been seen since, and will undoubtedly be on the lookout for new options this summer.
Egbo featured in all but one League Two fixture for the U’s, missing out due to a suspension, but is still yet to find a new club this summer window. Mostly playing as a more attacking minded full-back, his defensive stats were still incredibly impressive last campaign, as well as solid attacking stats in comparison to other League Two full backs.
Who would he suit?
The most logical option would be Crawley, seen as he’s already featured in a friendly, but Crawley don’t play with full-backs that suit his style, setting up in a 3-5-2, but another team that stands out is Grimsby Town, where he could provide decent competition for Tyrell Warren, who played both right-back and right-centre back both of which he’s comfortable in.
Will Nightingale
Will Nightingale struggled during the 2024/25 campaign, missing almost the whole of the season with a knee injury stating this campaign as the “worst season of his professional career,” noting that even as a 17‑year‑old he played more games than in 2024–25, during his loan spell at Ross County, which was his second loan spell at the Scottish Premiership side, where he joined from AFC Wimbledon.
Nightingale made 204 appearances for The Wombles but has left following the expiration of his contract after his 11-year tenure.
He will undoubtably be on the lookout for regular minutes and would benefit from a pre season in order to build up fitness ahead of the new campaign.
Who would he suit?
First of all, I reckon a move to Tranmere would benefit both clubs, as Tranmere’s current centre-back options look slightly thin on the ground, and would allow Nightingale to build up full fitness ahead of the new campaign. Another side that looks very thin on centre-back options is Cheltenham, who have only Robbie Cundy and Ibrahim Bakare contracted currently.
Jake Forster-Caskey
Following recent injury struggles with Stevenage, Forster-Caskey left the club following the expiration of his contract after a two-and-a-half-year tenure with Boro, after making just three appearances last term due to long term injury problems. He will look to build up his fitness through a string of games, and a drop down in division would likely be the best idea for him.
Having made over 250 EFL appearances, he spent time with Rotherham and Charlton before his move to Stevenage, after developing through the ranks at Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as featuring for the England U21s on 15 occasions.
Who would he suit?
A club on the hunt for a centre-mid with experience who have a budget slightly on the higher side would be the ideal suitor for Forster-Caskey. The first club in mind is Cambridge, (a short trip from most recent club Stevenage) who’s current central midfield options seem light, with just Korey Smith and Dominic Ball contracted to the club. Secondly, I would say a return to MK Dons seems feasible, to provide experienced competition for CDM’s Will Collar and Kane Thompson-Summers.
Hakeeb Adelakun
Adelakun’s form in recent years has been spectacular, scoring for fun during a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers in the second half of the 2023/24 season, playing a key role in their charge from 18th to the Playoffs. He now finds himself as a part of a huge list of free agents once again after his one-year contract at Salford City expired, where he scored 13 goals in 32 appearances.
Adelakun recently linked up with the PFA free agent training group and has featured in a couple of their organised pre-season friendlies but is yet to find himself a new club, potentially due to his higher wage demand, but his direct contributions show he would be a smart pickup despite these push factors.
Which club would he suit?
Realistically, Adelakun would suit a majority of League Two sides, but with a higher wage demand, that rules a few sides out of the equation. The main team that stands out is Bristol Rovers, who don’t have a contracted Left-Winger and operated with pacey wingers’ last campaign and with Shaqui Forde out of favour and Scott Sinclair leaving this move would make sense.
Do You Agree With Our Free Agents?
Do you agree with our free agent choices or do you think something different? Let us know below.
