BeSoccer's top 10 free transfers of all time

Elliot Turnbull 5 years ago 4.9k |

Reading time: minutes

Pirlo and Pogba pictured in 2016. EFE

Before the Bosman ruling, a player could not leave at the end of their deal unless that club agreed to let him go on a free, or that club received an agreed fee from a buying club. After a lengthy legal battle players were able to leave as soon as their contract expired, meaning they had leverage to demand huge signing-on fees and salaries from clubs to make up for the absent transfer fee.