According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have agreed to loan goalkeeper Andre Onana to Trabzonspor. The two clubs have reached a full agreement on all terms, and now it only depends on Onana’s approval.
As the Best Goalkeeper of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, Onana joined United with the expectation of replacing club legend David De Gea. However, his spell at Old Trafford has largely been marked by disappointment. After a shaky start filled with costly errors in the Champions League, the Cameroonian regained some trust during the second half of the 2023/24 season. Still, inconsistency has continued to plague him through the 2025/26 campaign, forcing United’s board to seek alternatives.
Since the beginning of the summer transfer window, United have tried multiple times to offload Onana to Saudi Arabian clubs. According to The Peoples Person and Football Transfers, the Red Devils were willing to sell him for around £30 million. However, due to his high wages and a contract running until 2028, no realistic offers materialized.
With the European transfer window now closed, Turkish side Trabzonspor emerged as a potential destination. The Sun reported that they had submitted a loan proposal, and Romano’s latest update strengthens the possibility of the deal reaching completion. For United, loaning out Onana would ease their wage bill and free up space for new goalkeeping options.
Still, one major obstacle remains: Onana himself. The Cameroon international has repeatedly stated his desire to stay and fight for his place at United, insisting he would only leave if told directly that he is no longer in the club’s plans. This means the Trabzonspor deal hinges entirely on his personal decision.
Should he accept a move to Turkey, Onana would have the chance to rediscover his form in a less pressured environment compared to the Premier League. It could also serve as a springboard for him to prove his value before either returning to United or securing a long-term future elsewhere. If he rejects the move, he is likely to spend much of the season on the bench, as Ruben Amorim appears to have placed his trust in Senne Lammens and Altay Bayindir.
For Manchester United, Onana’s departure would mark a turning point in the squad’s rebuild under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. After several costly transfer mistakes in recent years, the club is determined not to repeat past errors with big-money signings who fail to deliver.
Recent reports from Sports Mole and Reuters suggest that Onana has already fallen to third choice in Amorim’s goalkeeping hierarchy, with new signing Senne Lammens and Altay Bayindir both ahead of him. For Onana, losing his starting role almost certainly signals that the exit door at Old Trafford is wide open.