Report: Onana Set for Pay Rise With Trabzonspor Loan From Man Utd | OneFootball

Onana’s Man Utd Struggles Lead to Surprising Trabzonspor Switch

Onana’s Decline at Old Trafford

When André Onana arrived at Manchester United from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023, expectations were high. Signed for around £43 million, he was seen as the long-term successor to David de Gea and a goalkeeper capable of modernising United’s build-up play under Erik ten Hag. With Champions League experience and a reputation for composure on the ball, the Cameroonian was trusted to become a cornerstone of the project.

However, the reality has been far from the initial promise. Onana’s debut season was marked by inconsistency and costly errors. Since joining, he has been responsible for nine mistakes directly leading to goals – more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues during that period. His struggles continued, and by the start of the 2025/26 campaign, he found himself surplus to requirements under new head coach Ruben Amorim.

Onana’s absence from Premier League action this season, coupled with his omission from United’s pre-season due to injury, underlined his decline. He featured only once, in a shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town, and a request for a pay rise shortly afterwards further strained his relationship with the club.

Photo: IMAGO

Loan to Trabzonspor

With Amorim preferring Altay Bayindir and new signing Senne Lammens as his goalkeeping options, United’s hierarchy made the decision to sanction Onana’s departure. Trabzonspor moved quickly, aided by the Turkish transfer window remaining open until 12 September.

The deal itself carries no loan fee and includes no option to buy, but Trabzonspor have agreed to cover Onana’s salary in full. Reports suggest that the goalkeeper has embraced the opportunity, signing off on the season-long move after tentative initial discussions.

Why Onana Will Earn More in Turkey

The most striking detail of the move is Onana’s earnings. Despite underperforming at Old Trafford, he will reportedly collect almost double his Manchester United wage while in Turkey. Trabzonspor’s willingness to pay his salary in full is only part of the story.

Sources close to the player indicate that a signing-on fee and performance-related bonuses significantly boost his package. This means Onana could leave Trabzon with far greater financial rewards than he received in Manchester, despite being deemed surplus to requirements at United.

The Turkish Super Lig club, managed by Fatih Tekke, remain unbeaten after four games this season. Onana is expected to challenge Ugurcan Cakir for the starting position and could even make his debut against Fenerbahce following the September international break.

Onana’s United Record

In total, Onana has represented United 102 times, amassing over 9,000 minutes of football. He conceded 150 goals and kept 24 clean sheets during his two years at Old Trafford. These numbers highlight a turbulent spell – one that promised much but ultimately left the club searching for greater reliability between the posts.

As Onana embarks on his new chapter in Trabzon, both he and United will be hoping the move provides a fresh start. For United, it is a chance to reset under Amorim’s leadership. For Onana, it offers redemption – and a financial windfall that few would have predicted.