40 free agents are taking part in the 2025 PFA pre-season keeping fit, playing in matches and searching for a new club.
The PFA is offering a fully-funded pre-season training program for out-of-contract professional footballers registered following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, designed to mirror a typical club pre-season schedule and provide scouting opportunities.
Last year, over 120 players took part from the programme, and over 100 went on to secure new deals with clubs after being contacted directly as a result of their involvement in the camp.
Details:
Dates: Monday, 30 June – Thursday, 4 September 2025
Format: Weekly camps (Monday-Thursday, 4 days, 3 nights)
Eligibility: Unsigned players who were registered professionals in the 2024/25 season
Location: Champneys Springs Hotel and Spa, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
Cost: Free, including accommodation, match-day travel, and meals (funded by the PFA)
Scouting: Open to club staff and scouts to observe and meet players
Friendly Fixtures:
8 Jul: Worksop Town (7:30pm, Sandy Lane, S80 1TJ)
15 Jul: Port Vale (1:00pm, Champneys Springs, DE12 7HD)
29 Jul: Watford U21s (1:00pm, The Willows, AL2 1BZ)
2 Aug: Hednesford Town (3:00pm, Keys Park Stadium, WS12 2DZ)
6 Aug: VVCS (1:00pm, Loughborough University Stadium, LE11 3QF)
9 Aug: Everton U21s (3:00pm, Finch Farm, L26 3UE)
Players can register interest for the program.
Scouts can sign up for updates on scouting opportunities.
John Swift said in Sky Sports’ report: “Joe Wildsmith was at West Brom last year and he came here before.
“He said ‘If you’re between choosing clubs or talking to clubs, there’s no point being sat at home and going to the gym on your own’.
“As soon as I knew my contract was going to be up at West Brom and I wasn’t going to be signing, I signed up straight away. There’s nothing worse than just being sat at home, waiting for your agent to call and hoping it’s sooner rather than later.
“I went on holiday and enjoyed it, knowing that I was going to come here and put some work in. I’d rather come here as you can’t replicate what you do on the pitch in the gym. The whole time I’m without a club, I’ll be here working.”
“It was definitely my time to leave come the end of the season,” he admits.
“I went there hoping to push for promotion; we got to the play-offs once, but missed out twice. I’m disappointed with what we achieved, to be honest.
“With the team we had, the players we had, the managers we had, I think we definitely could have kicked on more and achieved more.
“Last season, when Carlos Corberan left and Tony came in, it was a massive difference in management. One manages one way, one manages the other. Maybe we just didn’t get it quite right when Tony came in. We had games where we should have won by three or four.
“The last part of my deal there was tough. I came off the bench every now and then. It didn’t go quite well at the end. Maybe the last three or four months was difficult, but overall, I really enjoyed it.”
Extended highlights from yesterday’s fixture with @worksoptownfc. 🤝
A solid performance and valuable minutes on the pitch for 22 free agents being supported by the union this summer. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/rLWD3ztvIi
— PFA (@PFA) July 9, 2025
PFA matchday. 🤝
Behind-the-scenes with 22 free agents who made the trip to Worksop Town last week as part of PFA pre-season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mbGT2pjmIa
— PFA (@PFA) July 14, 2025
Paul Dummett is another, he said: “When I left Newcastle, I didn’t think I would have been out without a club when the transfer window closed.
“It was a difficult time, an uncertain time for me. Newcastle helped me a lot. I left there and didn’t have a club, but I was fortunate enough to be allowed to train with the U21s.
“That helped me stay fit, so I was in a decent position when I went to Wigan. I wasn’t match fit, which was not ideal, but I was still in an OK position after training most days.
“The most difficult part at Wigan was that the team wasn’t until two hours before kick-off. I never got the opportunity to try and work as hard as I could on a Thursday and Friday if I knew I wasn’t going to be playing. I found myself not getting in the rhythm of trying to get fitter and fitter and playing some games.
“In the end, I didn’t play much and ended up going to Carlisle in January, then pulling my hamstring the first game I was there. It was a bit of a disaster season for me, really.”
He continued: “After last season, I thought coming here, surrounded by other players in the same position, was the best thing for me. I know exactly how everyone feels; it’s an uncertain time for everyone.
“This time 12 months ago as well, I probably hadn’t even gone back to training, so I’m in a more advantaged position now. I’m here to try and do my best, get as fit as I can.
“Being in the shop window, showing people that you’re still good enough to go and do it on a good stage is important. I’m sure I can still go out there and be good enough to play. I’m excited for that new challenge and the next chapter of my career.”
Maheta Molango, PFA CEO, praised the “application and commitment” of members who attended last year’s pre-season, and highlighted the value of the camp as a ‘shop window’ for players and clubs.
“Last year’s PFA pre-season was an overwhelming success, and it was fantastic to see so many of our members go on to secure new deals with clubs off the back of their time with us.
“Our PFA team and Players’ Board worked incredibly hard to create the environment for a successful 10-week camp, but it was the application and commitment of the players on the pitch that really made it feel like a genuine club pre-season set-up.
“Summer can be a tense time for players, especially those waiting to secure their next move. So we’ve put PFA pre-season in place for members who want to be in that team environment to keep physically and mentally fit, stay connected, and ultimately put themselves out there ready for when the next opportunity arrives.
“Preparations have been well underway for a number of months, and we’re excited to once again welcome our members to camp this June. I also urge managers, club staff and scouts to join us and see first-hand the talent on show.”
Here’s how fans reacted to 40 free agents per week taking part in the 2025 PFA pre-season keeping fit and searching for a new club…
@wound2close: @BristolCity Angus Gunn anyone? 👀
@danedwards1966: We might have to take a squad from this #swfc
@saintsman2320: @SUFCRootsHall let’s get dieng back
@Craigc28: @swfc harris and Shodipo?
@194Royc: Archie Mair, our Notts keeper at Wembley saving two penalties
@DougieSpen: Might be worth taking a punt on this Fleming geezer Acun #HCAFC
@anthonystevenh7: @Official_HUFC go get Farman now
@jamesdeegan773: Really good they do this for free agents
@youngsie_1987: @officialKLtown Archie Mair free agent
@What_Ryann_said: @BarrowAFC bring Tom Davies home
@stema_steve: Thought Mair had gone to Plymouth
@neil_rook19253: Angus Gunn is wild. That someone hasn’t picked him up.
@jamiesfcg2: I’d take Jordan Davies for this season, he’s quality, was very good for Wrexham & Grimsby #Saintsfc
@gregdunning20: Some players on here I’d take a look at if I was Grayson
@AlexBurke1: Few here worth taking a punt on
@Hopey_Media: Some of these names I’d take in a heart beat. Come on Jason, just fuck off
@knewshh: Bring me Adelakun and Ched plz
@theboygosling: Archie Mair – surely worth a pu t at this point, especially when we said we wanted 3 keepers #notts
@William_Downs_: See macca still ain’t got a club then good number of players on that list id take at county
@welsher14: There are some very good free agents here that would walk into @CTFCofficial squad and also would improve the depth of the squad
@EthanHoijord3: #TRFC could be interested in free agents: 26yo attacking midfielder Jordan Davies (scored 4 in 18 whilst on loan at Grimsby last season), 23yo CM Jake Cain (spent the last 2yrs at Swindon, after getting released by #LFC) + 29yo RW Adelakun (scored 22 goals in last 49 L2 games).
@StarFootballNE: Adelakun, Blackman, Davies, Evans, Forster Caskey and Paul Dummet some stand out names to me there, very strong 40 man squad 🙌🏻
@CawkwellHarry: Looking forward to the clubs fundraiser to bring Hakeeb home @SUFCOfficial
