Inside Onana move: Man Utd keeper agrees to join Turkish side after 'contract dispute'

Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has agreed to join Trabzonspor on a season-long loan, ending weeks of speculation about his future at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old Cameroon international has slipped down the pecking order under new United manager Rúben Amorim, with Altay Bayındır and summer signing Senne Lammens now expected to compete for the starting role.

The move to Turkey will give Onana regular football while also easing tensions around United’s goalkeeping department.

Onana joined United from Inter Milan in 2023 for a fee of around £47 million, arriving as a long-term replacement for David de Gea.

While he showed flashes of quality, particularly in the Champions League during his time at Inter, his United career has been inconsistent.

Tensions rose this summer when Onana reportedly requested a new contract on his return to training.

His wages had been reduced by 25% following United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, and although his deal runs until 2027, no extension was offered. Sources close to the club suggested that the issue frustrated Amorim, who preferred to move forward with other options.

The loan to Trabzonspor also makes financial sense for Onana. Reports indicate he will receive a signing bonus and benefit from Turkey’s flat 20% income tax rate, making the package more lucrative than remaining at Old Trafford as a backup.

The deal is seen as favourable for all parties, with United reducing their wage bill and the player gaining guaranteed playing time.

United’s focus now turns to integrating Lammens, who joined from Royal Antwerp on deadline day, alongside Bayındır.

Amorim is believed to favour a younger, more competitive goalkeeping group, and Onana’s departure removes a potential distraction from the dressing room.

Although this move is officially a loan, there is already speculation it could mark the beginning of the end of Onana’s United career. Unless he produces an outstanding season in Turkey, a permanent exit in 2026 looks increasingly likely.

For Trabzonspor, however, it is a major coup. Onana arrives with Champions League pedigree, experience at the top level in England and Italy, and a reputation as a modern goalkeeper comfortable with the ball at his feet. His signing is expected to boost their domestic and European ambitions this season.