Former France international and World Cup winner Paul Pogba is officially free to return to competitive football as his 18-month doping suspension expired on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The 31-year-old midfielder, whose career was thrown into jeopardy following a failed drugs test in August 2023, now stands at a crossroads as he seeks a new club to reignite his illustrious career.
Pogba’s ban stemmed from a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance that boosts testosterone, detected after Juventus’ Serie A match against Udinese on August 20, 2023. Initially slapped with a four-year suspension by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (NADO) in February 2024, Pogba appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In October 2024, the CAS reduced the ban to 18 months, ruling that Pogba’s ingestion of the substance was unintentional and resulted from a supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States. The ruling allowed him to resume training in January 2025 and return to competitive action as of this week.
“I can finally turn the page on this extremely painful period,” Pogba said in a statement following the CAS decision last year. “This has been a nightmare, but I’m driven by anger and determination to get back on the pitch.” The midfielder has spent recent months training rigorously in Miami with personal fitness coaches, showcasing an impressive physique as he prepares for his comeback.
Pogba’s return to football marks the end of a tumultuous chapter that saw his contract with Juventus mutually terminated in November 2024. His second stint with the Italian giants, which began in 2022 after leaving Manchester United, was plagued by injuries and off-field challenges, including a kidnapping and extortion ordeal in 2022 involving his brother Mathias and childhood friends. Limited to just 10 appearances in the 2022-23 season and a mere 51 minutes the following year before his suspension, Pogba’s time in Turin fell far short of the heights he achieved during his first spell with the club, where he won four Serie A titles between 2012 and 2016.
Now a free agent, Pogba faces a pivotal decision about his next move. Sources indicate he is prioritizing a return to one of Europe’s top leagues, with an eye on reclaiming his spot in the French national team for the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder remains in regular contact with France coach Didier Deschamps, described by a close friend as “one of his advisors for sporting decisions.” A move to a club competing in the Champions League or Europa League is seen as his preferred route to achieving that ambition.
Speculation about his future has been rife. Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, has emerged as a potential destination, given Pogba’s recent time in Miami and reported conversations with Beckham. The Saudi Pro League, with its lucrative offers, and Marseille, where club director Mehdi Benatia has not ruled out a move, are also in the mix. However, Pogba has decided to take his time, with sources suggesting he may delay signing with a new club until later in the year to ensure the right fit.
Reflecting on his journey, Pogba has cleared out his entourage and expressed a renewed focus on discipline and fitness. “I’ve been through a lot, but it’s made me stronger,” he said in a recent interview. “I’m not done yet—there’s more to come.”