Paul Pogba is officially free to return to professional football following the end of his doping ban.
The French midfielder, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, had been sidelined since August 2023 after testing positive for testosterone, a banned substance, following a match with his then-club Juventus.
Initially Pogba was handed a four-year suspension by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024.
Later his penalty was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October 2024, allowing him to resume his career as of this date.
Now 31 years old, Pogba is a free agent after his contract with Juventus was mutually terminated in November 2024.
His return to the pitch marks the end of a challenging chapter for the former Manchester United star, who has consistently denied knowingly taking any prohibited substances, claiming the testosterone came from a supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Pogba has expressed relief at the reduced sentence and eagerness to get back to playing, stating he felt "reborn" and ready to compete again.
For now, Pogba is free to sign with any club outside of active transfer windows under FIFA regulations for free agents, meaning he could potentially join a new squad almost immediately.