The deal includes a loan fee of around £1.3m, but United club will pay a part of the goalkeeper’s wages
Andre Onana is set to spend a second consecutive season on loan at Trabzonspor after the club agreed terms with Manchester United.
United had hoped to secure a permanent sale after Onana fell out of favour at Old Trafford last season, having paid Inter €50.2m to sign him in 2023. But his wages – which increased by 25% after United qualified for the Champions League without him – have made that exit route a difficult one.
Few clubs are prepared to match the player’s wages as well as pay a transfer fee, so another loan move was the most reasonable course of action. His salary is reportedly around £120,000 a week. With two years remaining on his contract, another loan ensures that the sum stays largely off United’s wage bill for another year.
United’s agreement with Trabzonspor includes a loan fee of around £1.3m, according to the Daily Mail. The Turkish club will cover most of the Cameroon goalkeeper’s wages, which means that United will pay a small part of it. It is not clear how much.
There is no option or obligation to buy next year, which means that Onana will also be a United player next summer with one year left on his contract.
Onana spent last season with Trabzonspor after leaving United in September and made 34 appearances in all competitions. He kept six clean sheets in the league and helped the Turkish club lift the Turkish Cup, adding to honours he won during spells with Ajax, Inter and United, where he was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2024.
The 30-year-old established himself as one of Europe’s leading goalkeepers during his time at Ajax before joining Inter on a free transfer in 2022. He impressed in Italy, which persuaded United to sign him, but his move to the Premier League failed to live up to expectations.
In his absence, Belgian goalkeeper and last summer’s signing, Senne Lammens, will continue as United’s first-choice goalkeeper. The Belgian enjoyed an impressive first Premier League season after arriving from Royal Antwerp, making 32 league appearances and keeping eight clean sheets.
Lammens’ performances also earned him a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad, and United regard the £21.7m signing as a success. However, the club are likely to seek options for backup goalkeeper next season, with the current No 2, Altay Bayindir, currently expected to leave.
