Manchester United have agreed to loan goalkeeper Andre Onana to Trabzonspor for a second season, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs. The agreement, finalised after initial discussions last week, will see United receive a loan fee of up to £1.3 million, dependent on Onana’s performance, but crucially contains no option or obligation for Trabzonspor to purchase the player outright.
Onana initially joined Manchester United from Inter Milan in 2023 for a fee of £47.2 million, but spent the 2023-24 season on loan with the Turkish Super Lig side. United had hoped Trabzonspor would pursue a permanent deal, particularly after Senne Lammens established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper there, potentially negating the need for Onana’s return. However, Trabzonspor opted for a further loan arrangement.
The loan will see Trabzonspor cover the majority of Onana’s wages, providing financial relief to United. Upon the conclusion of the loan next year, the Cameroon international will return to Old Trafford with only one year remaining on his contract. This situation presents a potential challenge for United, who may again seek to offload the player or negotiate a contract extension.
United’s willingness to loan Onana again reflects their difficulty in generating significant transfer fees for players deemed surplus to requirements, as evidenced by Jadon Sancho’s recent free transfer departure and ongoing struggles to sell Marcus Rashford. The club are actively reshaping the squad under new ownership, and managing the wage bill is a key component of that process. While a permanent sale would have been preferable, the loan deal allows United to mitigate some of the financial burden associated with Onana’s contract. The move allows United to focus on other areas of the squad, particularly midfield, during the current transfer window.
