Credit: AS Monaco
Paul Pogba marks his return to competitive football as he signs a two-year contract with Ligue 1 team AS Monaco on a free transfer. The FIFA World Cup 2018 winner’s move to France marks his comeback in football after seven months without a club in the aftermath of the doping ban. In a post on social media platform X, the team confirmed this. The post says, “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Paul Pogba. The midfielder has signed a two-season deal and now is tied to the club until 30th June 2027.”
The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder was provisionally suspended after being randomly tested following Juventus’ opening game of the 2023-24 season against Udinese. Following that test in which he tested positive for the synthetic hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Pogba has been sidelined. Initially he was handed a four-year suspension, his ban was later reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing him to resume playing from March, post a mutually agreed termination of contract with Juventus in November.
Paul Pogba’s legendary run with Juventus before doping ban
It was at Juventus, which he joined in 2012, that Pogba played superbly. With the club, he won four consecutive Serie A titles (2013 to 2016) as well as two Italian Cups (2015,2016) and two Italian Supercups (2013, 2015). He also reached the Champions League final in 2015,. With the Bianconeri (2012-2016 and 2022-2024), he made a total of 190 appearances (34 goals, 39 assists), while joining Manchester United in between. As a member of the French national team, he has 91 caps, 11 goals and 9 assists to his name.
According to the reports, Pogba’s immediate challenge is regaining full fitness. In the 2022-2023 season, his return to Italy for club football saw him make only 10 appearances due to recurring injury problems.
