Monaco Release Paul Pogba After Injury-Plagued Spell as Former World Cup Winner Becomes Free Agent
AS Monaco and Paul Pogba have mutually terminated his contract after an injury-plagued season in which the former France star made just six appearances and played 115 minutes.
AS Monaco have parted ways with Paul Pogba, bringing an early end to the former France international's difficult spell at the Ligue 1 club after persistent injuries prevented him from making the expected impact.
The 33-year-old midfielder joined Monaco in June 2025 on a contract that was originally due to run until June 2027, hoping to revive his career after a lengthy absence from competitive football. Instead, recurring fitness problems restricted him to just six appearances and 115 minutes of action during his first season. (Reuters)
Monaco confirmed on Wednesday that the club and Pogba had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, with the French side saying that the objectives established when he arrived had been only partially achieved. (Punch Newspapers)
The decision leaves the 2018 World Cup winner without a club and facing another uncertain chapter in a career that once placed him among the world's most celebrated midfielders.
Pogba's Monaco comeback fails to take off
Pogba's arrival at Monaco was initially viewed as an opportunity for the midfielder to rebuild his reputation.
After leaving Juventus and serving an 18-month doping suspension, Pogba had spent more than two years largely away from competitive football. Monaco offered him a route back into elite football and a chance to demonstrate that he could still perform at the highest level.
The move was particularly emotional for the player, who had endured a difficult period away from the game.
However, his comeback quickly became a battle against his physical condition.
Pogba did not make his Monaco debut until November 2025, months after signing for the club. Once he eventually returned, injuries continued to interrupt his progress. (L'Équipe)
Rather than becoming a regular starter, he found himself repeatedly moving between rehabilitation, individual training and limited appearances.
Only six appearances for Monaco
The most striking statistic from Pogba's Monaco spell is his limited playing time.
The midfielder made only six appearances, with just one start, and accumulated approximately 115 minutes on the pitch.
For a player who arrived with the expectation of becoming an influential figure in Monaco's midfield, the numbers underline how badly injuries disrupted the comeback.
Pogba's physical problems included a persistent calf issue that kept him out for several months.
At one stage, there were hopes that his return to training would allow him to contribute more regularly. He even scored in a friendly match during his rehabilitation, raising hopes that his fitness problems were finally behind him. (Goal)
Those hopes ultimately proved premature.
Fresh thigh injury worsens situation
Pogba's latest setback came during Monaco's pre-season preparations in England.
The midfielder reportedly suffered a thigh injury during training at St George's Park and was forced to leave the session prematurely. According to reports, he cried out during an exercise and subsequently left the pitch with his thigh strapped.
The injury came at a particularly unfortunate time.
Pogba had only recently returned to group training and had played just 45 minutes during Monaco's pre-season preparations.
The latest problem effectively reinforced concerns about his ability to maintain the physical demands of top-level football.
French newspaper L'Équipe reported that Monaco's decision to end the relationship was already under consideration before the latest injury, suggesting that the setback was not the sole reason for the eventual separation. (L'Équipe)
Monaco says objectives were only partially achieved
In announcing the termination, Monaco said the objectives initially set for Pogba's return had been “only partially achieved.”
The club's decision reflects the gap between the expectations surrounding the signing and what ultimately happened on the pitch.
Monaco had hoped Pogba's experience and quality could provide an additional dimension to the midfield while allowing the Frenchman to rebuild his career.
Instead, injuries meant that he was unable to establish himself as a consistent first-team player.
Despite the disappointment, Monaco's sporting leadership reportedly recognised Pogba's professionalism and his positive influence around younger members of the squad. (The Sun)
That aspect of his contribution may ultimately become one of the more positive elements of his brief stay in the Principality.
Another setback after doping suspension
Pogba's Monaco departure is the latest setback in a career that has been severely disrupted over the past several years.
The midfielder was suspended after testing positive for a prohibited substance in 2023. His initial four-year ban was later reduced to 18 months, allowing him to return to competitive football in 2025.
The suspension followed an already difficult period at Juventus, where injuries had limited his involvement after his return from Manchester United.
His time at Manchester United was also inconsistent despite flashes of the extraordinary talent that had made him one of the most expensive and recognisable players in world football.
His career trajectory has therefore changed dramatically since his outstanding performances for France at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, when he played a major role in the team's title-winning campaign.
From World Cup hero to uncertain future
Pogba's career has been marked by remarkable highs and frustrating lows.
He developed into a star at Juventus before returning to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world-record transfer fee for a Premier League club.
At Juventus, he won multiple Serie A titles and was named the league's Player of the Year.
He also became an important member of the France national team and helped Les Bleus win the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But injuries, disciplinary issues and his doping suspension have dramatically interrupted his progress.
Now, at 33, Pogba faces another major career decision.
What next for Paul Pogba?
Pogba is now a free agent, meaning he can negotiate with clubs without a transfer fee being required.
His immediate priority is likely to be regaining full fitness before deciding whether to continue his career.
Reports have previously linked experienced players in similar situations with opportunities in the Major League Soccer (MLS), Saudi Arabia and other leagues outside Europe's traditional elite.
However, Pogba's physical condition will likely be the biggest factor in determining whether another club is prepared to take a chance on him.
The Frenchman's reputation remains enormous, but prospective employers will have to weigh that reputation against his recent availability and playing record.
Monaco grateful despite disappointing outcome
Despite the unsuccessful sporting outcome, Pogba expressed gratitude to Monaco after the contract termination.
He thanked the club's president, management, teammates, staff and supporters for their backing during his time in the Principality.
The message underlined the player's appreciation for Monaco's decision to allow him to restart his career.
For Monaco, however, the priority is now to move forward.
The club will have to assess its midfield options and potentially find a replacement before the transfer window closes.
For Pogba, meanwhile, the challenge is much more personal: proving that he can still play at a high level after years of disruption.
A career at a crossroads
Paul Pogba's departure from Monaco represents more than the end of a short club spell.
It is another defining moment in a career that has moved from extraordinary success to prolonged uncertainty.
At Juventus and with France, Pogba demonstrated the ability to dominate matches with his passing, physical strength, vision and technical quality.
But his inability to remain consistently fit has prevented him from sustaining that level over recent years.
The Monaco experiment was supposed to provide a platform for a fresh beginning.
Instead, injuries once again intervened.
Now a free agent, Pogba must decide whether to pursue another comeback or consider the possibility that his career at the highest level may be approaching its conclusion.
For football fans, the hope will be that the talented midfielder can overcome his latest setback and find one final opportunity to show the qualities that once made him a global superstar.
For now, though, Paul Pogba's Monaco chapter has ended after just six appearances, leaving the 2018 World Cup winner's football future uncertain.