Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has confirmed that the Turkish club want to sign Andre Onana permanently following a standout loan spell from Manchester United, with the goalkeeper’s performances — including a match-winning display in the Turkish Cup — having made a significant impression.
Speaking to NTV Spor, Doğan was candid about the club’s intentions regarding the Cameroon international. “Onana’s career is already established. We like him. I’ve said this before. He has a certain plan for his career,” the president said. He added: “If the conditions are right, we want him to stay. The final decision will be Onana’s.”
Onana’s most prominent moment during his loan came in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals against Samsunspor, where the 28-year-old saved three penalties in a shootout to help Trabzonspor advance. The performance cemented his status as a fan favourite in the Black Sea city and brought renewed attention to his prospects beyond the current season.
Despite the goodwill generated on both sides, a permanent transfer faces a structural obstacle: the original loan agreement between Trabzonspor and Manchester United did not include an option to buy. Any deal would therefore require fresh negotiations between the two clubs, with Onana’s own preferences playing a central role in how those talks develop.
Onana joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023 from Inter Milan for a reported fee in the region of €50 million, signing a five-year contract. His debut season at Old Trafford drew mixed reviews, and his temporary move to Trabzonspor this season was seen as an opportunity to rebuild confidence and regain consistent form at the highest level.
His performances in Turkey have largely achieved that goal. Beyond the Turkish Cup heroics, Onana has featured regularly for Trabzonspor in the Süper Lig, stabilising a defence that had struggled for consistency before his arrival. The club currently sit in the upper half of the Turkish top flight, and his presence between the posts has been identified as a contributing factor to their improved results.
For Manchester United, the situation presents a broader strategic question. The club are in the midst of a significant rebuilding process under new ownership structures and continued managerial transition, and decisions over the goalkeeper position will form part of wider squad planning ahead of the 2026-27 season. Whether Onana fits into those plans — or whether United would entertain selling a player they signed less than three years ago — remains unclear at this stage.
With the current season approaching its conclusion, a resolution to Onana’s future is expected to come into sharper focus in the coming weeks, as both clubs and the player look to determine their respective directions for the next campaign.
