Here are ten players who are still under contract with their original clubs, even though you might have forgotten about them.
10. João Félix (Atlético Madrid)
João Félix has not played for Atlético Madrid since January 2023. He spent time on loan at Chelsea and then Barcelona. Despite these loan moves, Félix is still under contract with Atlético until 2029. With Barcelona likely to extend his loan, it's easy to overlook his ties to Atlético.
9. Liam Delap (Manchester City)
Liam Delap made a promising debut for Manchester City but has since struggled to live up to the high expectations. He has been loaned out to Stoke, Preston, and Hull over the past two seasons. Despite his time away, Delap remains under contract with Manchester City.
8. Sergio Reguilón (Tottenham Hotspur)
Sergio Reguilón, last seen in a Spurs jersey two years ago, has since been on loan to Atlético Madrid, Manchester United, and Brentford. Despite his multiple loan spells, Reguilón is still under contract with Tottenham Hotspur until 2025.
7. Sergiño Dest (Barcelona)
Sergiño Dest has had a tough time securing a spot at Barcelona, leading to loans at AC Milan and PSV. Both clubs declined the option to buy, meaning Dest remains under contract with Barcelona since his signing in October 2020.
6. João Cancelo (Manchester City)
After a falling out with Pep Guardiola in January 2023, João Cancelo was loaned to Bayern Munich and then to Barcelona. Despite these moves, Cancelo's contract with Manchester City runs until 2027, and his future with the club remains uncertain.
5. Malang Sarr (Chelsea)
Signed by Chelsea in 2020, Malang Sarr has been largely forgotten by fans, having been loaned to Porto and Monaco. Despite being back at Chelsea since summer 2023, Sarr did not play a single game all season. He remains under contract with Chelsea until 2025.
4. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku's return to Chelsea in 2021 didn't pan out as expected, resulting in loan spells at Inter Milan and AS Roma. Despite not playing for Chelsea in two years, Lukaku is still under contract with the club, and his future is up in the air.
3. Donny van de Beek (Manchester United)
The Dutch midfielder joined Manchester United in 2020 but has struggled to find his footing. After loan spells at Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt, van de Beek remains under contract with Manchester United and is expected to join their preseason tour.
2. Dele Alli (Everton)
Dele Alli's career has seen a steep decline, with his last professional game played in February 2023 while on loan at Besiktas. Despite his struggles, Alli is still under contract with Everton, and the club has shown support by allowing him to use their medical facilities even after his contract's expiration.
1. David Raya (Brentford)
David Raya played a significant role in Arsenal's title challenge this season, winning the Premier League Golden Glove. However, he is still a Brentford player, as his move to Arsenal was only a loan. With rumors of Arsenal eyeing Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin, Raya's future at Brentford could see a surprise return.
These players' situations illustrate the complex nature of football contracts and how loan spells can make fans forget their original club affiliations. For now, they remain under contract with their home clubs, leaving their futures in an intriguing state of uncertainty.
Comments