Monaco and Paul Pogba in talks to terminate contract after six appearances

By Charlie Bradshaw — 11 August 2026 — 3 min read

Monaco and Paul Pogba are reportedly in discussions to mutually terminate the midfielder’s contract. This development follows Pogba’s limited involvement with the club, having made only six appearances since joining.

The talks to end the two-year agreement after just 12 months come as Pogba sustained a hamstring injury on Tuesday. The injury occurred at St. George’s Park, where Monaco is currently based for their pre-season tour of England. Concerns have been raised that this injury could keep the midfielder sidelined for several months.

Contract Discussions and Injury Setback

Discussions regarding the mutual termination of Pogba’s contract have been ongoing for several weeks, predating the recent injury. The Ligue 1 club had initially hoped to help the 33-year-old midfielder, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, regain his previous fitness levels. However, the club reportedly feels they have been unable to achieve this goal.

The recent hamstring injury occurred during a training session. According to reports, Pogba cried out during a passing drill before collapsing to the turf. Medical staff quickly attended to him, and he was supported off the pitch by two members of Monaco’s backroom team, which visibly concerned his teammates.

This latest setback comes as Pogba was beginning to reintegrate into full group training sessions. He had managed only a brief appearance in pre-season so far, following a period marked by various physical issues that caused him to miss significant playing time.

Pogba’s Journey to Monaco

Pogba joined Monaco on a free transfer last summer, having been a free agent since his departure from Juventus in November 2024. His debut for Monaco in November 2025 marked his first appearance since September 2023, a gap of 26 months. This extended absence was due to a ban for breaching anti-doping regulations.

Initially, Pogba received a four-year ban in February 2024. This ban was subsequently reduced to 18 months upon appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The reduced ban meant he became eligible to return to training in January and resume his professional playing career in March.

The central midfielder began his youth career at Le Havre before moving to Manchester United as a teenager. He has made 91 appearances for the French national team but has not featured for them since 2022. In his career, Pogba is also a four-time Serie A winner with Juventus, for whom he played 190 times.

Uncertainty for the Club and Player

The timing of this fresh injury setback is particularly challenging for Monaco as they finalise their preparations for the new campaign. The club’s hierarchy had previously indicated that pre-season assessments would be critical in determining Pogba’s long-term future. With his physical condition remaining a persistent concern, the management now awaits the results of medical scans to assess the severity of the issue.

Both Pogba and the coaching staff face an anxious wait to determine how long he might be sidelined. Head coach Filipe Luís had recently expressed optimism about reintegrating the experienced midfielder into the squad. As Monaco looks ahead to upcoming competitive fixtures, the immediate focus shifts to managing the squad’s midfield depth, as they must plan without one of their high-profile names while he undergoes rehabilitation.

The priority for now is to support the midfielder through what is another frustrating chapter in his career, as talks regarding his contract termination continue.

Source: nytimes.com