Monaco set to terminate Paul Pogba's contract after fresh injury blow
Synopsis
Paul Pogba's Monaco experiment appears to be over before it truly began. Barely a year after joining on a free transfer following his doping ban, the French midfielder is reportedly heading for another contract termination — leaving his career future deeply uncertain at 32.
Key Takeaways
AS Monaco is expected to terminate Paul Pogba's contract following a fresh injury setback, according to reports.
Pogba joined Monaco on a free transfer in June 2025 on a two-year deal , after his Juventus contract was terminated post his doping ban.
He tested positive for DHEA in September 2023 ; the ban was initially set at four years by CAS before being reduced to 18 months , ending in March 2025 .
Discussions over an early exit are reportedly under way and expected to be concluded soon.
If confirmed, Pogba — aged 32 — would become a free agent for the second time in two years.
Ligue 1 club AS Monaco is expected to terminate the contract of French midfielder Paul Pogba following yet another injury setback, according to reports. The development marks a fresh blow for the 32-year-old, who had hoped his move to the Principality would signal a genuine career revival after an extended doping ban.
Background to the Monaco Move
Pogba joined AS Monaco on a free transfer in June 2025, after his contract with Juventus was terminated in the wake of an 18-month doping ban. He had signed a two-year deal with the French club, which was due to run until the end of the 2025-26 season. His first season at Monaco was already disrupted by injury, yet there was cautious optimism heading into the current campaign that he would finally play regularly.
Talks Over Early Exit Under Way
According to a BBC report, discussions over an early termination of Pogba's contract are under way and are expected to be concluded soon. If confirmed, the split would leave Pogba — barely a year into his Monaco spell — searching for a new club once again, raising serious questions about whether the decorated midfielder can sustain a competitive career at the highest level.
The Doping Ban That Changed Everything
Pogba had been out of competitive football since September 2023, when he was handed a ban after failing a dope test following Juventus's opening Serie A fixture of the 2023-24 season against Udinese on 20 August 2023. He had tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance known to boost endogenous testosterone.
Pogba's management challenged the sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which initially upheld a four-year suspension before reducing it to 18 months. The ban expired in March 2025, clearing him to resume his professional career — a window that now appears to be closing rapidly once more.
A Career Defined by Highs and Disruption
Pogba made his professional debut in 2011 with Manchester United before moving to Juventus in 2012, where he truly established himself as one of Europe's elite midfielders. With the Bianconeri, he claimed four consecutive Serie A titles between 2013 and 2016.
He returned to Manchester United in 2016, going on to make 233 appearances, score 39 goals, and register 51 assists across six seasons at Old Trafford. During that period, he won the UEFA Europa League and the English League Cup in 2017. His career trajectory since has been defined as much by injuries and off-field turbulence as by his undeniable talent.
What Comes Next
Should Monaco confirm the contract termination, Pogba would become a free agent for the second time in two years. At 32, with persistent injury concerns and the doping episode still fresh in the memory of clubs, finding a suitor willing to take a chance on him may prove considerably more difficult this time around.
Point of View
With two contract terminations and a doping sanction on his record, Pogba's window for a meaningful top-flight return is narrowing fast. The harder question is whether any club of ambition will now offer him the platform his ability once commanded, or whether he becomes a journeyman footnote to a career that promised far more.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is AS Monaco terminating Paul Pogba's contract?
AS Monaco is reportedly set to terminate Pogba's contract after the French midfielder suffered another injury setback, according to a BBC report. Discussions over an early exit are said to be under way and nearing a conclusion.
When did Paul Pogba join AS Monaco?
Pogba joined AS Monaco on a free transfer in June 2025, after his contract with Juventus was terminated following an 18-month doping ban. He had signed a two-year deal running until the end of the 2025-26 season.
What was Paul Pogba banned for?
Pogba was banned after testing positive for DHEA, a banned substance that boosts endogenous testosterone, following Juventus's Serie A opener against Udinese on 20 August 2023. CAS initially upheld a four-year ban before reducing it to 18 months, which expired in March 2025.
What are Paul Pogba's career achievements?
Pogba won four consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus between 2013 and 2016, and the UEFA Europa League and English League Cup with Manchester United in 2017. He made 233 appearances for United, scoring 39 goals and providing 51 assists.
What happens to Pogba if Monaco terminate his contract?
Pogba would become a free agent for the second time in two years, at the age of 32. Finding a new club willing to take on a player with persistent injury concerns and a recent doping history is expected to be challenging.
