André Onana: From Old Trafford Pressure to a Fresh Start in Turkey

When André Onana swapped Inter Milan for Manchester United in the summer of 2023, the move felt like a new chapter for the club. Costing around £43 million, he was seen as the goalkeeper who could finally drag United into the modern era. With his calm passing and Champions League credentials, he looked like the perfect successor to David de Gea and the kind of player Erik ten Hag trusted to transform United’s build-up play.

But the story didn’t unfold the way many expected. Onana’s first season in England was chaotic, marked by inconsistency and high-profile errors. By the end of that campaign, he had been directly involved in more goals conceded than any other player in Europe’s major leagues. Instead of being the solution, he became a symbol of United’s fragility.

Falling Down the Pecking Order

The summer of 2025 brought fresh changes at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim’s arrival as head coach meant a reshuffle in the squad, and Onana quickly realised he was no longer part of the long-term vision. Injuries kept him out of pre-season, and his only appearance this term came in a humbling Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.

Adding to the tension, reports suggested he had asked for a pay rise at the very moment his stock was falling. The request didn’t go down well with the hierarchy, who were already leaning toward Altay Bayindir and new signing Senne Lammens as their preferred options.

The Surprise Switch to Trabzonspor

With the Turkish transfer window staying open until mid-September, Trabzonspor made their move. The deal itself was straightforward: no loan fee, no option to buy, but full coverage of Onana’s salary. What looked like a simple exit strategy for United turned into an unexpected lifeline for the goalkeeper.

At first hesitant, Onana eventually agreed to the season-long switch, seeing it as an opportunity to reset his career away from the spotlight of the Premier League. Trabzonspor, managed by Fatih Tekke, are unbeaten after their first four matches and have ambitions of pushing for the title. The Cameroonian is set to battle club captain Ugurcan Cakir for the number one shirt, with whispers suggesting his debut could come in a fiery clash against Fenerbahce.

Why the Pay Packet Is Bigger

Perhaps the most surprising element of the move isn’t the destination but the salary. Despite struggling in Manchester, Onana is reportedly earning nearly double what he did at Old Trafford. Trabzonspor’s willingness to pay his wage in full only scratches the surface since his contract in Turkey includes a sizeable signing bonus and incentives tied to appearances and clean sheets.

For a player written off in England, the financial package represents a remarkable turnaround. What looked like a demotion on paper may prove lucrative both for his bank balance and, potentially, his reputation.

Looking Back at His United Spell

Onana’s time in Manchester will likely be remembered as a story of what might have been. Across 102 appearances, he conceded 150 goals and recorded just 24 clean sheets. In over 9,000 minutes of action, flashes of his quality were too often overshadowed by costly errors. For a goalkeeper brought in to stabilise the defence, the numbers painted a different reality.

A New Chapter in Turkey

Football careers rarely follow a straight path, and Onana’s journey proves just that. What began with fanfare at Old Trafford has taken him to the Black Sea coast, where he now seeks both redemption and relevance. For Manchester United, the loan marks a chance to fully embrace Amorim’s project without distraction. For Onana, it is a chance to prove that his story is far from over.

Whether he reclaims his reputation or fades further into obscurity, one thing is certain: his time in Trabzon will be watched with curiosity, not just in Turkey but across Europe.