Andre Onana has agreed a loan move to Trabzonspor from Manchester United that will see him double his salary for the rest of the season. The Cameroon goalkeeper is set to travel to Turkey on Thursday once the deal is finalised between the clubs.
Onana will receive a significant pay rise through signing-on fees and bonuses. United will not collect a loan fee and there is no option for the Turkish side to make the move permanent, with the agreement expiring on June 30.
United’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper this summer left Onana’s future in doubt. The club completed the £21.7m signing of Senne Lammens from Antwerp last week, despite earlier suggestions that Onana would remain at Old Trafford. Sources indicate that the 29-year-old was informed United would not block a move if an opportunity arose.
Trabzonspor made contact as they prepared to sell Ugurcan Cakir to Galatasaray. Talks advanced quickly and the Turkish club are pushing to complete the transfer before their window closes on Friday.
Onana has struggled since arriving at United from Inter Milan for £47.2m two years ago. Errors in high-profile matches undermined his position and he featured only once this season, making another costly mistake in the Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby Town. Altay Bayindir has started all three Premier League fixtures.
The situation was worsened by a hamstring injury sustained in July that ruled Onana out of pre-season. United were already considering replacements and held talks with Monaco over a possible £30m sale while keeping interest in Lammens and Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez.
United ultimately chose Lammens and had claimed they were willing to carry four senior goalkeepers, mindful of Onana’s absence during the Africa Cup of Nations in January. However, once the option of a move was raised, Onana chose to explore it despite having three years left on his contract.
His departure clears the path for Lammens to establish himself as first choice, with Bayindir and Tom Heaton providing back-up.
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