Andre Onana has completed his move from Manchester United to Trabzonspor on loan for the rest of the season subject to international clearance and registration.
Onana flew into Turkey on Thursday afternoon on a private jet with his wife Melanie and representatives to undergo a medical and sign a contract. The Cameroon star was then mobbed by joyous fans celebrating his arrival in the country.
The 29-year-old will double his earnings due to the signing-on fee and bonuses, with the Turkish club paying all of his wages. The deal does not include a loan payment to United or an option for Trabzonspor to buy him next summer.
Onana, whose only appearance for United this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby on penalties, is expected to make his debut against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Sunday.
The move to Trabzon ends a turbulent summer for the Cameroon international who missed United’s entire pre-season programme with a hamstring injury sustained on the second of training back at Carrington.
Altay Bayindir played on the club’s tour of the US and head coach Ruben Amorim has kept faith with the Turk for the first three Premier League games against Arsenal, Fulham and Burnley amid uncertainty over Onana’s future.
Andre Onana was mobbed by joyous fans when he arrived in Turkey to seal his move
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Onana had been expected to stay at United but he will spend the rest of the season in Trabzon
Sources close to the player and United still expected him to stay at Old Trafford, but the club opened the door to a loan move after signing Senne Lammens in a £21.7million deal from Antwerp.
Onana still has three years left on the contract he agreed in 2023 after joining United from Inter for £47.2m. United have an option to extend it by another 12 months, but it seems unlikely that he will play for the club again.
‘I am very happy. I can say that I am very happy,’ Onana said, as reported by 61Saat.
‘I am starting a new project, a new adventure for me, I am very happy to be here. This is a feeling that makes me so happy. I’ve never felt so much love from people around me.
‘It’s a wonderful feeling to be made to feel at home from the very first moment. I want to start working as soon as possible and reciprocate that love by making them happy on the field.
‘The meetings, all the dialogue we had, went very well. It turned out very well, and I’m here, too. Therefore, I can say it progressed very quickly.’
Onana flew in after making his 50th appearance for Cameroon on Tuesday in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Cape Verde.
The goalkeeper had been seen shoving a fan as he made his way off the pitch following a damaging result to their World Cup qualifying hopes.
Onana made a mistake on his only appearance of the season against Grimsby last month
Onana was seen pushing a fan away after Cameroon’s loss by Cape Verde on Tuesday
Onana will now be seeking a fresh start at Trabzonspor after a difficult spell at Man United.
Onana’s future at Old Trafford has been in doubt all summer after United pursued a new goalkeeper before signing Lammens from Antwerp in a £21.7million deal last week.
Despite assertions from sources close to United and the player that Onana would stay, the Cameroon international is believed to have been told that the club would not stand in his way if he wanted to seek a move.
Contact was made with Trabzonspor who were in the process of selling their keeper Ugurcan Cakir to Galatasaray, and a loan deal for Onana has progressed quickly ahead of the transfer window closing there on Friday.
Onana has struggled for consistency since joining United from Inter Milan for £47.2m two years ago, and committed a number of high-profile errors.
The 29-year-old made another mistake on his only appearance this season in United’s humiliating Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby Town, with Altay Bayindir starting all three Premier League games so far.
Onana’s situation wasn’t helped by the fact he missed the whole of pre-season after suffering a hamstring tear on his second day back at training at Carrington in July.
When United opted for Lammens over signing Emi Martinez last week, it was said that the club were prepared to carry four senior goalkeepers this season, with Onana set to be away at the Africa Cup of Nations over New Year.
But once United opened the door to a move, the former Ajax keeper decided to look at his options even though he has three years left on his contract at Old Trafford.
His departure would leave the way clear for Lammens to become United’s new No.1 with Bayindir and Tom Heaton as back up.
