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From soccer's most expensive transfer, to lifting the World Cup, to an 18-month doping suspension … Paul Pogba's career has been one extraordinary ride.
A path that started at Le Havre's youth academy in his home country of France has taken him through the highest peaks and most crushing valleys, including two separate spells each at Manchester United and Juventus, along with a brief stint at Monaco following his return to the game in 2025.
Few players have sparked the public's fascination quite like the unpredictable Frenchman in the 21st century. An undeniable force, Pogba radiated confidence and embodied the modern soccer icon, not to mention his standing as one of the planet's premier midfielders throughout the 2010s.
Yet, despite being only 33 years of age, Pogba is on the verge of being a free agent. Talks are underway regarding the termination of his deal, according to BBC Sport, after he managed just six outings for Monaco during the 2025–26 campaign.
Eight years after claiming the World Cup in 2018, Pogba finds himself at a crossroads.
The Glorious Juventus Years
Manchester United were swift to pluck Pogba from Le Havre back in 2009. The move was mired in controversy, with the French club accusing the Red Devils of unlawfully "stealing" their prized youngster, though the transfer was ultimately approved by a FIFA-appointed judge.
Pogba's departure from Old Trafford three years later sparked further public uproar, as the player and then-manager Alex Ferguson clashed, with both sides accusing the other of "disrespect." The midfielder made only seven senior appearances for the club before refusing to renew his contract, opting instead to join Juventus on a free transfer. Paul Scholes coming out of retirement in January 2012 may not have helped his chances of regular first-team football.
United and their fans felt the sting almost immediately, as Pogba went on to shine in Turin. In his debut season at Juve, he made 37 appearances and netted five goals, with his contributions growing significantly with each subsequent year.
The 2013–14 season brought 18 goal involvements and a second straight Serie A crown, followed by 20 goals and 22 assists across the next two campaigns. Pogba was central to back-to-back domestic doubles and played a pivotal role in the run to the 2014–15 Champions League final, where Juve fell to Barcelona.
Few midfielders were turning heads like Pogba, whose dynamic performances for the Bianconeri had elevated him to true superstar status. He combined power, precision and elegance in a way rarely seen in a single player, and a growing highlight reel of flicks, tricks and thunderous strikes compelled United to refocus their attention on their lost gem.
Pogba's Record-Breaking Return
Juventus cashed in handsomely on Pogba in August 2016. After benefiting from his brilliance for four seasons, they commanded a then-world record fee of £89.3 million ($120.6 million at today's rate), which United reluctantly paid to bring him back to Old Trafford.
Pogba looked set to be a transformative signing on his return to Manchester, but José Mourinho rarely brought out the best in the Frenchman. Though the two initially got along, their considerable egos soon came into conflict.
Always capable of brilliance on his day, consistency remained Pogba's biggest obstacle to recapturing his Juve-era form. Mourinho was far from the ideal manager to unlock his potential, yet Pogba still contributed nine goals and six assists in his first season back with the Red Devils, a campaign that ended with Europa League and EFL Cup glory.
The following season brought 18 goal involvements, but the dynamic between Pogba and Mourinho grew increasingly toxic. Midway through the 2018–19 season, Mourinho publicly labelled Pogba a "virus" and benched him for multiple matches, before the manager himself was dismissed following a humiliating 3–1 loss to Liverpool.
The appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, initially in a caretaker role, reinvigorated Pogba, who quickly rediscovered his best form within a more positive squad environment. That proved to be Pogba's most productive spell at United as he returned to his dominant, box-to-box best. Following the managerial switch, he racked up 16 goal contributions in the Premier League alone—compared to a mere six under Mourinho.
Given how outstanding Pogba had been at the 2018 World Cup with France—even finding the net in the final as Les Bleus defeated Croatia in Moscow to claim the trophy—it came as little surprise to see him produce consistent magic in a red shirt. However, that electric form was never going to last indefinitely.
Despite hinting at a summer departure in 2019 amid persistent Real Madrid speculation, Pogba remained at Old Trafford. An injury-plagued season then derailed his momentum entirely, and similar fitness issues in 2020–21 limited him to just six goals across all competitions. His final campaign at United was equally disappointing, yielding a single goal from 27 appearances.
The Irreversible Decline
This time around, United were far more willing to allow Pogba to walk into free agency. His performances no longer justified his enormous salary, and a return to Juventus in 2022 seemed the sensible move for everyone involved, particularly after several underwhelming seasons in Manchester.
However, the comeback quickly turned into a nightmare as Pogba suffered a knee injury just two weeks after arriving back in Italy, leaving him sidelined for several months. What followed was an incredibly fragmented season plagued by physical setbacks, with Pogba finishing the 2022–23 campaign having featured in just 10 matches.
Matters deteriorated further in September 2023. After testing positive in a drugs test, Pogba was provisionally banned from playing or training with his teammates, and a four-year suspension was subsequently handed down the following February. Although an appeal cut the ban to 18 months, he didn't return to competitive action until early 2025, by which time his Juve contract had already been cancelled.
Monaco were the hopeful suitors who chose to gamble on Pogba in June of that year, with the commercial appeal of signing the high-profile star seemingly outweighing the potential risks. The return, however, amounted to just a handful of appearances, with recurring injuries once again stalling his progress.
In the end, it proved to be a poor deal for the Ligue 1 club.
What Next for Pogba?
Once Pogba's contract is formally terminated, he will be free to hold discussions with other clubs for what would be the fourth free transfer of his career. A return to Europe appears highly unlikely, however, making a move to a more distant destination the probable outcome.
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Major League Soccer looks like a plausible landing spot, with clubs such as Inter Miami having previously been linked with the midfielder. Other franchises are likely to be tempted by the prospect of a marquee signing, though, perhaps unsurprisingly, he is currently nursing a hamstring injury picked up during preseason.
Should Pogba wish to extend his professional career despite an unrelenting series of misfortunes, MLS or the Saudi Pro League could offer him the opportunity to rebuild his fitness and sharpness without placing excessive strain on his body. Financial incentives would also play a role in any such move.
Either way, it is far from the future most would have envisioned for Pogba a decade ago. It is difficult not to look back on much of his career as a story of unfulfilled potential.