Paul Pogba has officially signed with AS Monaco, marking a dramatic return to professional football after nearly two years away from the game. The 32-year-old French midfielder, who has been sidelined due to injuries and a doping ban, was unveiled by the Ligue 1 club today in what he described as an emotional and hopeful new chapter.
Pogba, visibly moved during the signing, spoke candidly about the challenges he has faced since his last competitive appearance. After rejoining Juventus in 2022, he made only a handful of appearances, repeatedly halted by injuries. The situation worsened in September 2023 when Pogba was suspended following a doping violation. In November 2024, Juventus terminated his contract.
Now, after months without a club and a difficult period in isolation, Pogba sees his move to Monaco as a fresh start. “I’ve always loved Juventus and I always will,” he said. “That club helped shape who I am. I hold no grudges. There were things I appreciated and others I didn’t. But that’s life.”
He went on to express gratitude to former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and ex-teammate Giorgio Chiellini, who continued to support him during his exile. “Some people kept calling me, visiting me, and trying to help. Agnelli did. So did Chiellini, and a few teammates. But many others turned their backs on me. Some didn’t even call. I went through two years of solitude,” he admitted with clear emotion.
Despite the hardships, Pogba insists he never gave up. “A year ago, I said I wasn’t dead. My dream is still to see my children celebrate one of my goals with a dab. Today, I think about the future, not the past.”
He has signed a contract with Monaco running until 2027 and feels physically prepared to embrace the challenge ahead. “I feel good. I’m ready to take on this challenge with Monaco,” he said. “I dream of returning to the national team, but I’ll have to earn it. I’ve spoken with [Didier] Deschamps, but the road is still long.”
Pogba’s return is one of the most talked-about stories in French football this summer. His journey from world champion to the sidelines and now back again promises to be a compelling subplot as the new season approaches. Whether he can regain the form that once made him one of the world’s most influential midfielders remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Paul Pogba is not finished yet.
