Paul Pogba joins AS Monaco – World Cup winner returns after doping ban

Paul Pogba has officially signed a two-year contract with AS Monaco, marking a return to professional football after nearly a year on the sidelines.

The 32-year-old midfielder has been without a club since November 2024, when Juventus terminated his contract following a doping ban.

Initially handed a four-year suspension, the punishment was reduced to 18 months on appeal, allowing him to resume training in January and return to playing from March this year.

Despite being eligible to play since the spring, Pogba was out of football until Monaco moved decisively to sign him this week.

His arrival in Monaco is his first venture into French domestic football, having never played in Ligue 1 after coming through Le Havre’s academy before his move to Manchester United as a teenager.

Pogba offers top-level experience to a Monaco side that finished third in Ligue 1 last season and are aiming to close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain.

The deal, which runs until June 2027, was confirmed by Monaco in a statement on Saturday. The club expressed excitement at adding him to their ranks.

Pogba’s club career includes two spells at Man United, where he made 233 appearances and won the Europa League and League Cup in 2017.

He also enjoyed significant success with Juventus, lifting four Serie A titles and reaching the Champions League final in 2015.

He returned to Juventus in 2022, but was limited to just 12 appearances due to injuries and his eventual suspension for testing positive for testosterone in September 2023.

Monaco are also expected to finalise a loan deal for Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, as they look to build a squad capable of contending on multiple fronts next season.