“The rebirth”: Pogba back after doping ban

Paul Pogba, former World Cup winner and enfant terrible of French football, is back. After a year and a half of doping ban, the now 32-year-old, footballing genius and extroverted professional, has a new club.

June 28, 2025

From: dpa/sn

Pogba signed a contract with AS Monaco, valid until June 30, 2027, the club announced. He was previously without a club.

Juventus Turin parted ways with Pogba in November 2024. His contract, which would have been valid until the end of that month, was terminated. Pogba had tested positive for doping in August 2023 after a Serie A match between Juventus and Udinese Calcio – his testosterone level was too high. The B sample confirmed the result.

The 2018 World Cup winner appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), denying the use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances. CAS reduced a four-year ban imposed in Italy to 18 months because it found Pogba had not intentionally doped.

Pogba with a fresh start in Monaco

"The Rebirth," AS Monaco called a short video announcing the move on Instagram. The term of his contract in the principality has not yet been announced. Pogba, capped 91 times by his national team, moved to England to join Manchester United as a teenager. Apart from that, he has only played for Juventus. With the Italian record champions, the Frenchman won four league titles and two cups, and this season he also reached the Champions League final (1-4 loss to FC Barcelona). In 190 games for Juventus, he scored 34 goals and provided 39 assists; in Manchester, Pogba scored 233 goals and provided 39 assists in 51 matches.