where do free agent players go?

I was looking to get some free agent strikers because I have less then 50k to spend and im a new player I saw a good free agent striker aged 28 and 3 stars but his timer ran out before I could bid on him if nobody buys free agent players in the transfer market where do they go?

u only get free players with 3 stars on the market.

if none bet on him he'll just get removed lol

He ends up in a Findus ready meal.