Football Manager 2017: 20 Free Agents You Must Sign

Age: 33

Position: DMC/MC

Though his career mostly went off the rails in the last few years at Chelsea, Michael Essien still has proper footballing pedigree. He's a Champions League player, and while his stats are no longer at that level, you won't see much below a 14 for his key attributes and he can still play some games for you in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

Potential Value: £10k

Surprisingly, Essien doesn't cost a great deal in wages, and he's the kind of one year contract Championship sides looking for promotion should jump straight on. He'll manage a 6.5 to 6.9 average rating when called upon and he's a good option to cover defensive midfield when you're playing a lot of games. Not for long-term, but useful all the same.