Paul Pogba terminates contract with Juventus after mutual agreement

Paul Pogba and Juventus have mutually agreed to part ways amid doping ban as the club announced on Friday via an official statement. The Turin-based club terminated the player's contract despite his ban being cut down to 18 months by CAS in October 2024.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Paul Pogba becomes free agent, he’s left Juventus terminating the contract on mutual agreement.

Pogba will be able to join new club with immediate effect, training from January 2025 and playing from March 2025. pic.twitter.com/IEjikxWzpM

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 15, 2024

The Serie A giants Juventus have stated in the official club statement:

"Juventus Football Club and Paul Pogba announce that they have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of their contract as of 30 November, 2024.
The club wishes Paul the very best for his professional future."

Paul Pogba confirmed his departure from the club via Instagram and expressed his gratitude to Juventus fans.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paul Labile Pogba (@paulpogba)

However, Pogba becomes a free agent and will be available in the winter transfer window in January 2025. 

Pogba's doping ban

Paul Pogba made his long-awaited return to Juventus in 2022 but he has not played for the Bianconeri since September 2023. In August 2023, Pogba was tested positive for DHEA which is a banned substance. According to Journalist Julien Laurens, Paul Pogba admitted to Juventus that he took some food supplements not knowing they contained testosterone which led to his positive drug test. 

However, Italy's anti-doping court sanctioned Pogba with a four-year ban for doping in September 2023, and the decision was announced this year in February. Pogba appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against the punishment stating that the verdict was incorrect. CAS reduced Pogba's ban to 18 months from four years as the 31-year-old Frenchman was able to prove that the consumption of testosterone was not intentional. Pogba stated afterwards:

"I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes, 

"I play with integrity, and although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation."

However, Pogba is eligible to play from March 2025 after receiving the punishment reduction.

The following incidents

According to a report by Fabrizio Romano on 7 October 2024, both parties would agree on a contract termination. Pogba's high salary of €10m per season also caused financial worries for the Turin club and his fitness issues would have taken time to recover. 

🚨 Paul Pogba and Juventus, expected to agree on contract termination as he will become a free agent.

Talks to follow from tomorrow after CAS verdict, as Paul will be available from March.

Paul Pogba also feels a fresh start would be best solution for him and his career. pic.twitter.com/niTvAzRbzt

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 6, 2024

The reports have come true and now Pogba has become a free agent and will be available in the winter transfer window. Paul Pogba is training in Miami to regain his fitness and be ready for his next club. It will be exciting to see which club pursues the French midfielder who will be available to train with his new club from January and play from March 2025.