AS Monaco has moved to terminate Paul Pogba's contract, seeking to reach a financial settlement before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

Pogba joined Monaco on a free transfer following his departure from Juventus, signing a two-year contract on June 30, 2025. The deal was originally set to run through June 2027, but will now not extend beyond the summer of 2026.

Limited Impact on the Pitch

The French midfielder made just six appearances during the 2025-26 season, accumulating only 115 minutes of total playing time.

Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro began signaling the club's position in July 2026, publicly questioning Pogba's future at the club. Scuro stressed the importance of managing the wage bill in accordance with French football's financial regulations, which are overseen by the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion), the body responsible for monitoring club finances in Ligue 1.

Pogba's remaining gross salary is approximately €2.41 million, the figure at the center of ongoing negotiations between the two parties. A settlement must be finalized before September 1 to enable Pogba to pursue opportunities with another club during the remaining transfer window.

A Career Marked by Setbacks

At 33, Pogba's career has been shaped by both extraordinary highs and significant challenges. He was instrumental in France's 2018 World Cup triumph, scoring in the final against Croatia. Four years earlier, he had become the world's most expensive footballer when Manchester United re-signed him from Juventus for a then-record €105 million in 2016.

He returned to Juventus on a free transfer in 2022, but his second stint at the club was disrupted by a knee injury and, more significantly, a four-year doping ban imposed after a test detected elevated testosterone levels. The ban was subsequently reduced to 18 months on appeal. Juventus and Pogba mutually terminated his contract in November 2024.

Monaco was intended as a fresh start, but recurring injuries, including a calf problem followed by thigh issues, limited his ability to make a meaningful contribution.

Financial and Strategic Implications

For Monaco, removing Pogba's salary from the wage bill would create additional flexibility under French football's financial fair play rules. Scuro's public remarks on wage management indicate this move forms part of a broader squad restructuring effort.

The September 1 deadline heightens the urgency of the negotiations. Should no agreement be reached before the window closes, Pogba would remain technically under contract at Monaco but with no realistic route to first-team football.