Florent Malouda, William Gallas, Roque Santa Cruz and Mark Schwarzer are among the biggest names on the Premier League free transfer list.
Malouda, 32, last played for Chelsea in their 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, but has since been frozen out of the first-team picture and so saw out the remaining season of his £80,000-a-week contract training with the club's Under-21s.
Lyon, who sold him to Chelsea for £13million in 2007, looks the most likely destination for France international.
Defender Gallas leaves Tottenham on a free transfer after three seasons since joining from north London rivals Arsenal, and midfielder David Bentley, who spent time on loan in Russia with FK Rostov and at former side Blackburn last season, is another set to move on.
Santa Cruz, 31, was loaned out to Malaga last season, where he played under Manuel Pellegrini, who is reported to be in line to take over at Manchester City.
Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, meanwhile, will not feature in City's future plans for their new manage, with his move to Liverpool at the end of his contract confirmed last month.
Full-back Wayne Bridge is to join Reading.
Schwarzer, who had been linked with a switch to Arsenal in the past, turned down the offer of a new deal at Fulham, and so will move on.
Arsenal announced earlier this week that Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Sebastien Squillaci would all be leaving this summer, which was confirmed on the Premier League list on Friday.
Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Portugal defender Paulo Ferreira have both been released by Chelsea.
Long-throw specialist Rory Delap departs Stoke along with retiring ex-England striker Michael Owen, Jermaine Pennant, Matthew Upson and Dean Whitehead.
Relegated Wigan, QPR and Reading, meanwhile, all announced the expected several free transfers as they prepare for life in the Championship.
