#free agent

As of March 28, 2026

I can’t imagine how he’s feeling now having to fly back to that hell hole.

How does being a free agent work?

I just wanna wrap him up in a blanket and give him a warm hug 😭 he, nor any player, deserve sth like this 😤

oh! on free agent, from what i understand:

A free agent (“FA”) is a player who is not or no longer contractually bound to any club. This usually happens when an existing contract comes to an end (either no renewal/extension was offered or signed). When this happens, they can join any club without a transfer fee. (Note: transfer fee is paid by the new club to the old club that a player is currently with to compensate for the player’s contract with their old club that is yet to expire. This has nothing to do with the player’s salary, etc.)

FAs are not bound by transfer windows, i.e. they may be signed by a club at any time. They can be signed outside transfer windows, as seen with D*ni Alves and Martin Caceres. 

An FA can be approached once their existing contract ends, or they can be approached usually within 6 months prior to their contract expiration for advance negotiations (as seen in Robert Lewandowski’s move to Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund)

Lionel Messi is one of the well-known examples of FA, when his contract with Barcelona could not be renewed as the club could no longer afford him. This led him to become a FA and he eventually signed with PSG. There can be many reasons why a contract renewal/extension couldn't happen, be it personal, business/commercial, or other reasons.

References for further reading: link 1 (also briefly talks about the history of FA from the Bosman ruling), link 2, link 3

Eric (real name Moon Jung-hyuk), actor and member of Shinhwa, has joined the free-agent market.

According to a report by Sports Seoul on October 11th, the exclusive contract between Eric and his agency TOP Media has expired. (Note: Eric signed with TOP Media on January 1st, 2019 and he also replied to a comment that his contract finished end of 2021)

In this regard, TOP Media said to Sports Seoul, “Our contract period has ended but the company will continue to support his entertainment activities through mutual agreements”.

Eric signed with TOP Media, the agency founded by Shinhwa member Andy, in 2019. Since then, he began to carry out active activities, such as holding a solo fanmeeting, starring in dramas “Eccentric! Chef Moon”, “The Spies Who Loved Me”, etc., and joining entertainment programs “4 Wheeled Restaurant – America”, “The Barber of Seville”, etc.

As a member of Shinhwa, he also performed in the group’s 21st-anniversary concert “CHAPTER 4”.

In August, his wife – actress Na Hye-mi announced her pregnancy. Announcing the news of pregnancy 5 years after their marriage, the couple received many congratulations. Eric is known to be taking a break to help his wife with prenatal care.

Meanwhile, Eric made his debut with Shinhwa in 1998. The group gained huge love after releasing numerous hit songs, such as “Hey You Come on”, “Wedding”, “Perfect Man”, “Brand New”, etc. He then turned to acting and appeared in the drama industry for the first time through “Phoenix” in 2004. Since then, he has taken the male lead role in various popular series, such as “Que Sera, Sera”, “Discovery of Love”, and “Another Miss Oh”.

Sources: Daum + Sports Seoul Translation: KBIZoom