Paul Pogba agrees two-year Monaco deal to restart career after doping ban

Paul Pogba is set to make a comeback to professional football with AS Monaco following the end of his doping ban. The French midfielder has finalized a two-year contract with the Ligue 1 club and is scheduled to undergo a medical examination this week. Pogba's last competitive appearance came in September 2023 while playing for Juventus. He received a four-year suspension after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. After appealing the length of his ban, it was reduced to 18 months, allowing him to resume his career as of March this year.

At 32 years old, Pogba has garnered interest from various clubs worldwide since terminating his contract with Juventus last November. While teams from Major League Soccer and Saudi Arabia expressed interest in signing him, Pogba ultimately chose to relaunch his career in Monaco. Notably, despite his roots in France, having come through the academy at Le Havre, he has never played in the French domestic league. Pogba previously had two notable stints at Manchester United, where he became the world's most expensive player in 2016 with a transfer fee of £89.3 million. However, his return to Old Trafford was marred by disappointment, leading to a return to Juventus in 2022 on a free transfer. Unfortunately, his time in Serie A was plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, culminating in the doping ban that has now concluded, paving the way for his new chapter in Monaco.