Report: D.C. United in talks to sign World Cup winner Pogba

D.C. United are in talks with free-agent midfielder Paul Pogba over a potential deal to bring the World Cup winner to Major League Soccer, a source told The Athletic's Pablo Maurer.

D.C. United have first dibs on Pogba because they own the 32-year-old's discovery rights, according to Maurer.

Pogba has attended several MLS games - most recently Los Angeles FC's 1-0 loss to Austin FC in March - since making his last professional appearance in September 2023. He was suspended that year for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, a testosterone-enhancing substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list, and handed an initial four-year ban that the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced to 18 months.

The former Juventus and Manchester United playmaker said a food supplement a U.S. doctor had prescribed to him tainted his drug test.

Pogba is now eligible to play and sign for any club. He terminated his contract with Juventus in November, and his doping ban expired in March.

Pogba has a house in Florida and worked with Lionel Messi's fitness coach to get back into shape. An MLS team is also more likely to provide him with the minutes he needs to prove himself and potentially earn a place in France's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

He last played for the French national team in a March 2022 friendly against South Africa. He has 91 caps and helped Les Bleus win the World Cup in 2018 in Russia.

D.C. United are reportedly interested in signing pending free agent Kevin De Bruyne as well. A deal for the Manchester City midfielder would be more difficult to accomplish as United would have to acquire his discovery rights from Inter Miami in a likely costly transaction.