Thanks to his on-the-ball ability, Manchester United thought they had signed a transformative figure in Andre Onana in the summer of 2023 as the now-29-year-old replaced the long-standing David de Gea. Although he enjoyed moments of brilliance – including his impressive double save against Fenerbahce in the Europa League – his spell in England flattered to deceive.
Given there were hopes that he would be able to help the Red Devils adopt a more possession-based approach to playing, Onana arrived to plenty of fanfare. He had just helped Inter Milan reach the final of the Champions League the season before, one in which they lost 1-0 to Manchester City, but his calmness in between the posts saw him become one of the most coveted goalkeepers in world football.
Under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, though, Onana continued his trend of making a raft of high-profile errors – and he, therefore, fell down the pecking order and was shipped out on loan.
Altay Bayindir was operating between the sticks rather than the former Ajax stopper before Senne Lammens was signed from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth just £17 million and the writing was on the wall: there was no longer room for Onana at the Theatre of the Dreams.
On the surface, swapping Old Trafford for Papara Park may have seemed an odd choice for Onana – but, as he attempts to acclimatise to new surroundings, how have his first few months in Turkey played out? We’ve taken a look at the statistical side of the game, while we’ve also delved into what Trabzonspor supporters have made of their charismatic shot stopper.
Andre Onana – Career Statistics
Club
Games
Goals Conceded
Clean Sheets
Ajax
214
192
85
Man Utd
102
150
24
Inter Milan
41
36
19
Trabzonspor
6
6
2
Inside Onana’s Start to Life in Turkey
In Manchester, a lack of stability – from the powers that be upstairs to on the pitch – was not a very helpful environment for Onana to enter when he was signed by Erik ten Hag. In his defence, injuries unsettled a hodgepodge back line, but that does not mean he was without his faults. It was reported in April that, since the start of 2024/25, Onana had made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions.
That was the most of any goalkeeper plying their trade in the Premier League – and his error-strewn form often put Amorim’s United under the cosh unecessarily.
With a change of goalkeepers on the horizon, he was sent out on loan at Trabzonspor. A move to benefit all parties, it’s been so far, so good for the glovesman on Turkish soil. He’s played six times in the Turkish Super Lig – and, in that time, he’s conceded just six times and kept two clean sheets.
Thrown straight into the deep end to make his competitive debut, Onana started between the sticks in his current employers’ encounter with Fenerbahce, who were second in the table at the time. He faced an abundance of shots – 29! – and made eight saves. His soft parry, which was then converted by Youssef En-Nesyri, ultimately overshadowed how well he played though.
The 52-cap Cameroon international – who caught the eye of Old Trafford chiefs during his spell at San Siro with Inter Milan – most recently kept a clean sheet as his Trabzonspor side beat Eyuspor 2-0 on home soil. Once again looking to raise his stocks among the football community, Onana made four saves on the occasion and his passing could be likened to his days in the Italian capital.
Calm and composed, 30 of his attempted 35 passes (86%) were accurately placed, while 11 of his 16 attempted long balls (69%) found an awaiting teammate. Since the start of the 2025/26 campaign, Onana – as seen below – has conceded just one goal per game. In terms of how proactive he’s been, he’s made 3.5 saves per match. All in all, he’s been a decent addition to Trabzonspor’s ranks.
Faith Tekke’s Trabzonspor side have now gone on a four-match winning streak – and Onana’s decisiveness, alongside his ability to produce big moments, has been crucial to them rising up the league table. If he continues performing at such a high level, United will be more likely to recoup as much of the £47.2 million they coughed up for his signature two years ago.
Trabzonspor Fans Sing the Praises of Onana After Recent Display
Onana became something of a laughing stock during his time at United, with fans frustrated at the repetitive nature of his never-ending mistakes. Moving to Turkey – at the age of 29, which is relatively young for a goalkeeper – offered him the chance to start again and those of a Trabzonspor persuasion welcomed him with open arms. They are delighted with his start to life at the club.
Responding to footage of Onana remaining composed and saving a shot before diving to his right to thwart the follow-up, fans are pleading that Trabzonspor and Onana reach an agreement come to the end of the 2025/26 campaign to ensure that he stays on a permanent basis. “Please my dear Onana, you better remain here and don’t go back to Manchester United please.”
Signing from the same hymnsheet, another fan wrote, “The goalkeeper is very good, make him permanent! Don’t let him not be made permanent.”
As mentioned, Onana was unable to use the glare of Old Trafford to platform himself into being widely considered as one of the best goalkeepers in world football. His best-performing stint came for Inter Milan – and some fans believe he is on the cusp of re-finding that sort of form. Simply put, one wrote, “The man returned to his Inter time.”
“You were unbelievable today, bro! Felt like watching the old Onana again.”
“So happy you’re with Trabzonspor,” a fourth member of the Papara Park faithful added before a final supporter made a bold claim regarding the Cameroonian. “The best in the super league,” they wrote. Onana and his teammates, at the time of writing, are sitting second in the Turkish Super Lig after 10 league outings. Only Galatasaray – five points ahead at the top – are better off.
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