An unexpected twist may be about to occur in the goalkeeping situation at Manchester United: André Onana has reportedly given the green light to continue at Trabzonspor, following a season marked by drama and controversy at Old Trafford. The 30-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper, who arrived in England as a star and cost the Red Devils an impressive £47.2 million, now seems increasingly distant from Manchester and on the verge of extending his adventure in Turkey, according to reports from the Turkish press.
The Manchester United has received a formal proposal from Trabzonspor to keep Onana for another season, after the goalkeeper was loaned to the Turkish club following a complete collapse of confidence in England. Signed as the third most expensive goalkeeper in history, Onana has never managed to justify the investment: despite praise from Pep Guardiola, who called him “exceptional” after his dream season at Inter Milan, chaotic performances and high-profile errors have turned the Cameroonian into a shadow of what he promised. His arrival forced the departure of David De Gea, in a personal decision by Erik ten Hag, who was eventually sacked in October 2024, making way for Rúben Amorim. The Portuguese coach initially tried to back Onana, but soon reversed his decision and began to rely on Altay Bayindir, without the Turkish goalkeeper providing better assurances. This instability forced United to move for the signing of young prodigy Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18.1 million, definitively relegating Onana to third place in the goalkeeping hierarchy.
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André Onana’s stay at Trabzonspor seemed unlikely after a difficult start, but the goalkeeper managed to redeem himself during the second half of the season, becoming a standout figure and locker room captain, even helping the club win the Turkish Cup with a 2-1 victory over Konyaspor. President Ertuğrul Doğan wasted no time and has already begun talks with the player and Manchester United in an attempt to secure the Cameroonian’s continuity. The English club, on the other hand, is looking for a permanent exit, but Onana’s high salary—which will increase significantly with the Champions League bonus—complicates any permanent transfer.
According to the Turkish channel A Spor, Onana has “accepted” Trabzonspor’s proposal to continue at Papara Park for another season, again on loan. Although the agreement between the player and the Turkish club is finalized, there is still no consensus between the two clubs, leaving the goalkeeper’s future uncertain. Onana feels valued in Turkey and reportedly confided to Trabzonspor’s management that he would like to “help the club win titles and grow even more,” showing a complete willingness to remain in the service of the Black Storm, according to a source close to the player after the end of the season.
The decision of Manchester United will be crucial in determining the outcome of this process. With Senne Lammens established as the new first-choice goalkeeper, Tom Heaton as the third option, and the management looking for a new number two — with a Scottish international being one of the strongest possibilities — there is no urgency to offload Onana to balance the accounts, as is the case in other positions, particularly on the left side of the attack with Marcus Rashford. INEOS, the new entity responsible for the club’s sports management, is focused on streamlining the squad without compromising the budget allocated for key reinforcements, such as a new forward or midfielder.
The most likely scenario is that Onana will remain in Turkey for another year, unless United can secure a satisfactory sale. However, the interest from other European clubs could quickly change the fate of the Cameroonian international, who continues to believe he can regain some of the lost prestige. The outcome of this saga promises to shake up the transfer market, with the possibility of Onana staying away from Manchester — and a return to the top of the Premier League becoming increasingly unlikely for someone who was once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
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