AS Monaco are preparing to mutually terminate Paul Pogba’s contract, bringing an early end to the French midfielder’s attempted return to professional football.

According to reports from Nice-Matin, Le Parisien and Fabrizio Romano, the club informed Pogba several weeks ago that they wanted to end his deal (which ran until June 2027) by 1 September so he can find a new club this transfer window. Monaco will settle the remaining wages. The decision is not linked to the thigh injury he suffered in training on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 — that was simply the latest setback in a season defined by physical problems.

Pogba made just six appearances (approximately 115 minutes) for Monaco last season after signing in the summer of 2025. Club general manager Thiago Scuro later described the project as one that “didn’t work well.” Expectations were never met.

Here is the full story of how one of the most talented midfielders of his generation reached this point.

Early Years and the Road to Manchester United

Paul Labile Pogba was born on 15 March 1993 in Lagny-sur-Marne, near Paris, to Guinean parents. He grew up in the tough surroundings of the Parisian suburbs and began playing football with local clubs Roissy-en-Brie and Torcy before joining the prestigious academy of Le Havre.

In 2009, at the age of 16, he moved to Manchester United’s academy. Sir Alex Ferguson saw a player of enormous potential — tall, powerful, technically gifted and capable of dominating midfield. Pogba made his first-team debut in September 2011 as a substitute for Ryan Giggs in the League Cup against Leeds United. Despite his clear quality, limited first-team opportunities and a contract dispute led him to reject a new deal.

Rise at Juventus

In the summer of 2012, Pogba joined Juventus on a free transfer. What followed was a rapid ascent. Under Antonio Conte and later Massimiliano Allegri, he became a central figure in a dominant Juventus side. Between 2012 and 2016 he won four consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and established himself as one of the best young midfielders in Europe. Powerful, creative and capable of scoring spectacular goals, he was regularly linked with a Ballon d’Or contender status.

The Record Return to Manchester United

In August 2016, Manchester United paid a then-world-record £89 million to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford. The homecoming was meant to be the start of a new golden era. He won the Europa League and FA Cup in his first season under José Mourinho and produced moments of brilliance, especially in 2018–19 under Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Yet consistency proved elusive. Injuries, tactical disagreements, off-field distractions and the overall instability at United after Ferguson’s departure limited his impact. By the end of his second spell he had scored 29 goals and provided 35 assists in 233 appearances, but the sense of unfulfilled potential lingered.

Second Spell at Juventus and the Doping Ban

Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer in 2022. The second chapter in Turin was short and troubled. Persistent injuries restricted him to very few appearances. In September 2023, after a match against Udinese, he failed a doping test for DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). He received a four-year ban, later reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the grounds that the ingestion was not intentional. The ban ran from the provisional suspension, allowing him to return in March 2025.

In November 2024, Juventus and Pogba mutually terminated his contract.

The Monaco Chapter: Hope and Disappointment

In June 2025, an emotional Pogba signed a two-year deal with Monaco, describing it as “La renaissance.” He cried during the presentation, thanking the club for trusting him. The plan was clear: rebuild his fitness, regain rhythm in Ligue 1 and Champions League football, and possibly force his way back into the France squad.

It never materialised. Recurring problems with his knee, ankle, calf and thigh meant he was rarely available. Six league appearances and barely 115 minutes of football later, Monaco decided the project had failed. The club informed him weeks ago that they intended to end the relationship. Tuesday’s latest thigh injury simply underlined the decision.

What Now?

At 33, Paul Pogba’s career hangs in the balance once more. A player once tipped for greatness and a 2018 World Cup winner with France now faces another period of uncertainty. Monaco will settle his remaining wages, and he is free to seek a new club before the transfer window closes.

From the streets of the Paris suburbs to the pinnacle of European football and back through injury, controversy and disappointment, Pogba’s story remains one of extraordinary talent repeatedly interrupted by circumstance. Whether this latest chapter marks the beginning of another revival or the beginning of the end is still to be written.