Paul Pogba joins AS Monaco – World Cup winner completes doping ban comeback | OneFootball

Paul Pogba has officially signed a two-year contract with AS Monaco, marking a fresh chapter in his career and 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 had not found a new club until Monaco moved decisively to secure his signature this week.

His arrival at the Stade Louis II represents his first venture into French domestic football, having never played in Ligue 1 despite coming through Le Havre’s academy before his move to Manchester United as a teenager.

Pogba, who has earned 91 caps for France and played a key role in their 2018 World Cup triumph, brings 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 described Pogba as a “French World Champion” and expressed excitement at adding him to their ranks.

Pogba’s club career includes two spells at Manchester 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 after his second stint at Old Trafford 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.

For Pogba, the move to the Principality is not just a chance to rebuild his career but also to finally feature in the league of his homeland — a stage he has surprisingly never graced until now.

Monaco supporters will now hope the midfielder can rediscover his form and add quality and leadership to their midfield.