Written by
WorldCupSpain Editorial Team
Reviewed by
WorldCupSpain Editorial Desk
Updated
October 14, 2026
Methodology
Corrections
Paul Pogba remains a free agent after Monaco released him in August following a brief comeback that produced six appearances in 2025/26. Reports now link the former France midfielder with a switch to Major League Soccer, though no concrete talks have been confirmed.WHAT HAPPENED
Pogba, 33, returned to competitive football after a doping suspension that was originally four years and later reduced to 18 months. He waited until the summer of 2025 to sign for Monaco after training in Miami, but persistent injury problems limited him to six appearances and led to his departure from the Ligue 1 club in August. The Daily Mail, cited in the report, says Saudi Arabia is not a serious option and that MLS interest has resurfaced.
WHY IT MATTERS
Pogba’s release effectively closes the door on a sustained return to top-level European football, shifting the realistic markets for him away from the continent. Within MLS, roster mechanisms such as discovery rights and the league’s roster freeze affect how and when any move could be completed, altering which clubs can negotiate and when Pogba might be registered.
WORLDCUPSPAIN ANALYSIS
The available facts point to two clear constraints on Pogba’s prospects. First, his injury record and limited minutes at Monaco materially reduce his appeal to top clubs; the six appearances after the ban reinforced concerns that the risk of signing him may outweigh potential reward. Second, MLS’s internal rules create practical hurdles: DC United reportedly held talks with Pogba before his Monaco move and currently possess his discovery rights, at least in theory. The source also shows that MLS clubs have previously bypassed or contested discovery arrangements — examples cited include LA Galaxy and Inter Miami — which makes the final destination uncertain despite DC United’s position. Finally, because Pogba has been without a club for months, it is unclear whether an MLS team would classify him as a Designated Player, and the report states that well-run clubs would struggle to justify that status for a player with his recent record.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Any MLS move can only take place in the league’s offseason because signings are blocked after the roster freeze date. The report notes Pogba was offered to MLS clubs in August but that no concrete negotiations have been reported. DC United currently hold his discovery rights, and interest from other MLS clubs (including previous links to Inter Miami and New York City FC) has been mentioned in the press.