Monaco push to sign Paul Pogba on free transfer after doping ban | OneFootball

Paul Pogba is closing in on a return to professional football, with AS Monaco pushing to sign him on a two-year deal.

The Ligue 1 club have made a formal contract offer and are in advanced negotiations with the 32-year-old, who has been a free agent since leaving Juventus last year.

Pogba has been training privately ahead of pre-season as he prepares to relaunch his career following an 18-month suspension for doping.

He was provisionally banned in August 2023 after testing positive for DHEA, a banned substance that increases testosterone levels.

Although he was initially handed a four-year ban, the punishment was reduced to 18 months in October after an appeal.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the substance was taken inadvertently and noted it only has performance-enhancing effects in females.

Following that ruling, Pogba and Juventus agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent in November 2023.

He became eligible to return to football in March and has since explored several options, including potential moves to Saudi Arabia and the United States.

However, the World Cup winner has prioritised a return to France, and Monaco have emerged as his most likely destination.

If completed, the move would mark his first spell in French domestic football since leaving Le Havre for Manchester United as a teenager in 2009.

Pogba has not played a competitive match since August 2023, when he made a brief appearance for Juventus in their Serie A opener against Udinese.

Since then, he has spent time recovering fitness and maintaining his physical condition while resolving his suspension.

Monaco are reportedly working on multiple deals this summer, including an attempt to sign Barcelona’s Ansu Fati, but view Pogba’s potential arrival as a statement of intent.

The club are confident that the midfielder’s experience and profile could benefit a relatively young squad as they prepare for a return to European football next season.

Pogba, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, will now look to rebuild his career after a turbulent chapter and prolonged absence from the game.