Paul Pogba

Lore & Background

Pogba began his professional career at Manchester United, playing several games in the 2011–12 season. However, limited appearances caused him to join Italian club Juventus on a free transfer in 2012, where he soon developed into one of the best midfielders in Europe. Pogba was a focal part to the club winning four consecutive Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia titles, which included domestic doubles in 2014–15 and 2015–16. Pogba was named in the UEFA Team of the Year and in the FIFA FIFPro World11 after helping Juventus reach the 2015 UEFA Champions League final, their first in twelve years.

During his time at Juventus, Pogba was often linked with fellow elite-level clubs; he returned to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record transfer fee of €105 million (£89.3 million). In his first season back, he won the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League, being awarded the Europa League Player of the Season. In the following season, he helped United finish as both Premier League and FA Cup runners-up. In the 2018–19 season, he had the most prolific season of his career and was named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Despite United's overall decline during the period, Pogba remained the team's focal point, registering 62 goal contributions—31 goals and 31 assists—in his first three seasons. He rejoined Juventus in 2022, but was released by the club in 2024 after beginning an 18-month doping ban that was lifted in March 2025. In June 2025, he signed for Monaco. Internationally, Pogba captained France to victory at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was named the Best Player of the tournament.

He debuted for the senior team a year later and went on to become a central figure of his French generation. Pogba played at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he was named the Best Young Player. At UEFA Euro 2016, which was on home soil, he helped his country reach the final, though they ultimately suffered a shock defeat. He was part of the country's redemption as they won the 2018 World Cup, scoring in the final.

Reader's Guide

Paul Labile Pogba was born on 15 March 1993 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France, to Guinean parents. He has two older brothers who are twins – Florentin Pogba and Mathias Pogba – born in Guinea, who are also footballers and play for the Guinean national team. Florentin last played as a defender for ATK Mohun Bagan while Mathias last played as a forward for ASM Belfort. As a child, Pogba was a fan of Arsenal.

Pogba began his football career at the age of six playing for US Roissy-en-Brie, a few miles south of his hometown. He spent seven seasons at the club before joining US Torcy, where he served as captain of the club's under-13 team. After one season with Torcy, Pogba joined professional club Le Havre. In his second season at the club, Pogba captained its under-16 team to the final phase of its domestic league, the Championnat National des 16 ans.

Le Havre finished second to Lens in the final group phase, finishing ahead of the likes of Lyon and Nancy. Pogba also established himself as a youth international for his country. On 31 July 2009, Pogba announced that he was departing Le Havre to join the youth academy of Manchester United in England. The move surprised his parent club, as it allegedly had a 'non-solicitation agreement' with Pogba, which was agreed to by not only the player but also his parents in 2006.

The agreement, which was in place until the end of the 2009–10 season, allowed Le Havre to sign Pogba to an aspirant (youth) contract once the player met specific age and scholarship requirements. On 1 August, Le Havre released an official statement on its website criticising Manchester United and the Pogba family. Le Havre also announced its intent to ask FIFA to probe the situation. In response to Le Havre's accusations, Manchester United threatened to sue the club, while Pogba denied he was leaving Le Havre for monetary reasons, which Le Havre President Jean-Pierre Louvel had alleged to be £87,000 and a house.

Le Havre was also accused by Pogba's former club Torcy of using the same tactics it purported Manchester United to have used when the club acquired Pogba from its youth academy.