French international and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has officially returned to professional football, signing a two-year deal with AS Monaco following the completion of an 18-month doping suspension.
Pogba, 32, was initially handed a four-year ban by Italy’s anti-doping tribunal in February 2024 after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance that increases testosterone levels. The positive test followed a routine drug screening conducted on August 20, 2023, after Juventus’ Serie A match against Udinese, in which Pogba did not even take part.
The midfielder had been provisionally suspended since September 2023 and consistently maintained that he had no intention of doping, attributing the result to a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States.
Appeal and Reduced Ban
In a bid to clear his name and reduce the harsh penalty, Pogba appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Following a comprehensive review, CAS acknowledged that while Pogba had indeed ingested a banned substance, there was no evidence of intent to enhance performance unfairly.
As a result, his ban was reduced from four years to 18 months, with the panel noting that the doping violation was “likely the result of negligence rather than deliberate cheating.”
This ruling allowed Pogba to resume full training in January 2025 and re-enter competitive football by March 2025.
Juventus Contract Terminated
Following the doping revelation and the disciplinary proceedings that followed, Juventus terminated Pogba’s contract in late 2024. The club had re-signed the midfielder from Manchester United in 2022, but recurring injuries and off-field issues limited his impact during his second spell in Turin.
A New Chapter with AS Monaco
After months of speculation surrounding his future, Pogba confirmed his return to top-flight football by joining AS Monaco, a Ligue 1 club where he aims to rebuild his career and restore his reputation. The deal was finalized this week and runs through the 2026–27 season.
In a statement released by the club, Monaco said they were confident that Pogba’s experience and leadership would be vital to their ambitions in domestic and European competitions.
Pogba, who appeared emotional during his unveiling, said:
“This has been the most difficult chapter of my life. I never intended to cheat or disrespect the sport I love. I’ve learned, I’ve grown, and now I’m ready to fight again — for myself, for my family, and for football.”
Career Highlights and Future Outlook
Paul Pogba began his professional career with Manchester United before rising to global prominence at Juventus, where he won four consecutive Serie A titles. He returned to United in a then-world-record transfer in 2016 and played a crucial role in France’s 2018 FIFA World Cup victory.
With his suspension behind him and a fresh start ahead, Pogba now looks to make his mark once again in the French Ligue 1, aiming to help AS Monaco reclaim its place among the league’s elite.