OFFICIAL: Pogba returns to football with Monaco after 18-month ban

Football is calling Pogba back. The French midfielder, who served an 18-month ban for doping, has joined Monaco on a contract running through the next two seasons.

The club have given Pogba a fresh chance after he last played an official match on 3 September 2023, when Juventus beat Empoli. He has endured a difficult period since testing positive for synthetic testosterone on 20 August 2023, a result confirmed by a counter-analysis on 6 October that year.

Initially handed a four-year ban, Pogba had lost hope of returning to the sport. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his sanction to 18 months, reopening the door for a comeback. March 2025 marked the start of a new chapter for the midfielder as he looks to regain his passion for football and recapture his best form ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

During his time away from the pitch, Pogba has worked hard on his physical condition. There has been constant speculation about his next destination, with Inter Miami among the clubs linked to him — the midfielder having been based in Florida since October last year.

Ultimately, it is Monaco who have secured his services, giving him the platform to relaunch his career at the forefront of European football. This will be his first time playing in French football following spells at Manchester United (2011-2012 and 2016-2022) and Juventus (2012-2016 and 2022-2024).

Les Rouge et Blanc bolster their midfield with a true box-to-box player, known for covering vast areas of the pitch. Pogba's strengths include his physicality, vision, technique, dribbling, and late runs into the opposition box.

A significant signing for Adi Hutter, who will now have a commanding presence in midfield. The next star expected to join Monaco's glamorous project is Barcelona's Ansu Fati.