Pogba’s return to the pitch follows a challenging period in his career. In February 2024, he received a four-year suspension for testing positive for the anabolic agent DHEA. After successfully appealing, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban to 18 months, allowing him to resume competitive action from March 2025 . During this period, his contract with Juventus was mutually terminated in November 2024 .
Prior to his suspension, Pogba had struggled with form and fitness during his second spell at Juventus. He initially rose to prominence at Manchester United, earning a world-record £89.3 million transfer back in 2016, and securing two trophies in his first season . He then returned to Juventus in 2022, but found limited opportunities and recurring injuries before the ban was imposed .
AS Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 last season, securing a spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds. The club built on its summer recruitment by adding Pogba following the arrival of England international Eric Dier in May . Monaco hopes Pogba’s proven quality and experience will reinforce their midfield and help elevate their domestic and European performances .
Pogba’s choice of Monaco was influenced by his ambition to return to the French national squad, with Champions League participation seen as a critical factor . In a club-issued video, Pogba was visibly moved when donning the iconic No. 8 shirt—his first tears of joy in professional football since returning to France .
Formerly trained at Le Havre and with 91 international caps and 11 goals to his name, Pogba is now poised to make his Ligue 1 debut this August—possibly facing his boyhood club Le Havre—while stepping back onto Europe’s biggest stage .
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