In the summer of 2023, David de Gea left Manchester United after the club took the decision not to extend his contract.

In a search for a new goalkeeper, United turned to Andre Onana, a player Erik ten Hag had worked with during their time together at Ajax. Onana had enjoyed a good season at Inter and shone in the Champions League final against Manchester City, despite the fact that the Italian side fell to defeat. 

After lengthy negotiations, United eventually reached an agreement with Inter to sign Onana for a reported fee of just under £50 million, including bonuses.

Onana was United's no. 1 for two seasons, but the Cameroonian's time at Old Trafford was turbulent, to say the least. He frequently made errors which led to goals, and his distribution, which was supposed to be the strongest attribute of his game, looked ordinary at best.

In 2025, United completed a deal to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. Following the arrival of the Belgian, Onana joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan for a year, and that loan deal was extended in the summer till the end of the current season.

Trabzonspor are now keen to sign Onana on a permanent basis.

According to Turkish Football, Trabzonspor have initiated plans to sign Onana on a permanent transfer, with President Ertuğrul Doğan determined to negotiate a deal before the end of the current season.

The report claims that Onana’s stellar performances this season have convinced the Trabzonspor hierarchy to pursue a permanent transfer rather than risk a summer bidding war.

With Onana entering the final stages of his contract at Old Trafford, it is unlikely United will agree to another loan deal. United are therefore eager to recoup a transfer fee before his contract expires, pushing Trabzonspor to open talks ahead of the winter window.

During his time at United, Ten Hag made several questionable signings, but Onana ranks amongst the worst.

Onana cost United games on multiple occasions, particularly during United's Champions League campaign during the 2023/24 season.

The fact that Onana failed at United was not only Onana's fault. Ten Hag also has to take his share of the blame.

The Dutchman used Onana poorly. The benefit of having a keeper like Onana was supposed to be his ability with the ball at his feet, but under Ten Hag, United often went long and did not regularly try to play out from the back.