Andre Onana is a professional footballer who has pursued his career across various European leagues, gaining attention both for his club-level achievements and for various disciplinary incidents and controversial decisions. He has worn the jerseys of top-tier clubs such as Ajax, Inter Milan, and Manchester United for the majority of his career. On the international stage, technical and administrative disagreements with the Cameroon national team have been among the defining factors of his national team journey.
Andre Onana (AA)
Andre Onana was born on 2 April 1996 in the village of Nkol Ngok in Cameroon. His interest in football began at an early age, and he received his initial training at the academy founded by Cameroon’s prominent player Samuel Eto’o. In 2010, at the age of 14, he moved to Spain and joined FC Barcelona’s youth academy. However, due to his non-EU citizenship, he was unable to play directly for La Masia; instead, he was loaned to Cornella’s youth setup for the 2012–13 season and then to Vista Alegre the following season.
In January 2015, Onana signed with Ajax and moved to the Netherlands, initially playing for Jong Ajax. He was promoted to the first team in August 2016 and took over as the starting goalkeeper. He made a total of 214 appearances for Ajax, winning the Eredivisie title three times, the KNVB Cup twice, and the Johan Cruyff Shield once. He also delivered standout performances, including reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals in the 2018–19 season and the UEFA Europa League final in the 2016–17 season.
A significant turning point in his career came in February 2021, when he received a suspension for testing positive for the banned substance furosemide. Onana claimed he had accidentally taken his wife’s medication, and his ban was reduced from one year to nine months. This period marked the beginning of the end of his tenure at Ajax.
Onana transferred to Inter Milan in the summer of 2022 and won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season in Italy. He gained recognition for going 13 matches in the Champions League without conceding a goal, playing a key role in helping his team reach the final. He was on the field for the final match against Manchester City. In Serie A, he kept clean sheets in eight matches.
In July 2023, Onana transferred to Manchester United for approximately £47 million, becoming the club’s first African goalkeeper. He reunited with his former manager Erik ten Hag. During the 2023–24 season, he won the FA Cup but faced criticism for errors made during the Champions League group stage. He kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League and made a total of 45 appearances. In the 2024–25 season, he remained the first-choice goalkeeper, making 47 appearances by the end of the season.
In September 2025, Onana was transferred on loan from Manchester United to Trabzonspor, becoming the club’s 200th foreign player. With this move, he became the fourth Cameroonian footballer in Trabzonspor’s history. It was announced that under a one-year contract, he would receive a guaranteed salary of $3.51 million and a signing bonus of $1.75 million.
Andre Onana (AA)
Onana made his debut for the Cameroon national team in 2016. He participated in tournaments such as the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he was excluded from the squad for the 2022 World Cup due to a tactical disagreement with head coach Rigobert Song. He announced his retirement from international football after the tournament but reversed his decision in September 2023.
As of 2025, he has made 42 appearances for the national team.
Andre Onana is described as a modern “sweeper-keeper,” known for his involvement in play, ability to distribute the ball from the back, and bold positioning. However, his risky style of play has also drawn significant criticism during his time at Manchester United, particularly for errors made in Champions League group stage matches, which have cast a shadow over his performances.
The 2021 doping suspension, his exclusion from the 2022 World Cup squad, and fluctuations in club performance have consistently been prominent topics in discussions about Onana’s career.
Onana’s cousin, Fabrice Ondoa, is also a goalkeeper for the Cameroon national team. He is married to Melanie Kamayou, a French citizen of Cameroonian origin, and is a father to one child.
Childhood and Youth Years
Ajax Era (2015–2022)
Inter Milan Career (2022–2023)
Manchester United Transfer (2023)
Transfer to Trabzonspor (2025)
Cameroon National Team Career
Playing Style and Controversies
Personal Life and Family
