Paul Pogba is on the verge of departing Monaco, with negotiations reportedly underway to terminate his contract early, according to a source who spoke to the BBC.
The 2018 World Cup winner joined the Ligue 1 club last summer after being cleared to resume his professional career following a doping suspension. He signed a two-year deal that had been set to run until the end of the current season, but talks over an early release are said to be progressing and could be finalized shortly. Monaco have yet to issue any official statement on the matter.
Pogba's return to competitive football with Monaco got off to a rocky start, as injury problems limited his involvement throughout his first season at the club. There had been optimism heading into the new campaign that fitness issues would ease and that the midfielder would finally establish himself as a regular fixture in the side.
However, a managerial change at the club appears to have altered those plans. Filipe Luis has taken over as Monaco's head coach, replacing Sebastien Pocognoli, and the new manager may be looking to reshape the midfield with a different set of options, potentially leaving little room for Pogba in his setup.
Pogba's career took a dramatic turn in February 2024 when he was provisionally suspended from football for four years after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance. The positive test stemmed from a doping check conducted in August 2023. Throughout the ordeal, Pogba insisted the violation was unintentional, claiming he had unknowingly consumed a supplement that contained the prohibited substance.
The lengthy ban threatened to end his playing career prematurely, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport intervened, reducing the suspension to 18 months. That decision paved the way for Pogba to return to professional football in March 2025, and he subsequently signed with Monaco in search of a fresh start.
Despite the opportunity, his first year back on the pitch was far from smooth. Persistent fitness setbacks prevented him from making a consistent impact, and questions lingered over whether he would be able to recapture the form that once made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world.
Now, with a new coaching regime in place and reports of contract discussions already in motion, it appears increasingly likely that Pogba's time in the principality will come to an early close. Should the termination go through, the France international would once again find himself searching for a new club, this time without the shadow of a suspension hanging over him, but still facing the challenge of proving he can return to his best after such a turbulent period away from the game.
Monaco's silence on the situation leaves several questions unanswered, including the financial terms of any potential termination and whether Pogba would be free to negotiate with other clubs immediately. For now, the France midfielder's future remains uncertain as both parties reportedly work toward resolving his contractual situation in the coming days.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.