Trabzonspor: his new loan, Francis Ngannou, his off-field projects… André Onana opens up

At 30 years old, the Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana is already taking a deep and lucid look at his future. While his sporting career continues at the highest level, the keeper of the Lions Indomptables, still under contract with Manchester United until June 2028, has chosen to extend his adventure in Turkey. According to his own words, this new loan to Trabzonspor fits into an overall career plan where on-field demands meet increasingly strong post-career ambitions.

After 29 games, 6 clean sheets in the Süper Ligue, and lifting the Turkish Cup last season, the decision to return to the city of Trabzon for a one-season loan took shape after decisive talks with the Turkish club's management. The goalkeeper explains that he was won over by local passion and the club's clear desire to keep him.

“The president told me that the club really wanted me, as well as the city and the fans, and that the club was ready to make certain efforts, particularly financially, to keep me,” the player reveals. Aware of the passing years, he admits unfiltered that his outlook has changed: “At 30, the biggest part of my career is behind me. Today, I of course consider the sporting side, but also other interests”.

Bonuses, Salary…

Behind this signing, rumors were swirling regarding the financial details of the deal, with some sources mentioning a paid loan with a €1.5 million performance bonus. The Lions Indomptables’ goalkeeper is keen to set the record straight about the negotiations between Manchester United and the Turkish team. “It’s a dry loan for me. It’s not a paid loan,” he clarifies, while admitting that confidential variables and bonuses are part of the deal, but do not represent a direct acquisition cost for Trabzonspor.

André Onana also shows the same discretion when it comes to discussing the exact figures of his annual salary or signing bonus. Refusing to comment on what is a private matter, he prefers to talk about his financial success in terms of gratitude and the journey he has taken. “For a child who grew up in Obili [a popular district of the city of Yaounde, Ed.], I can say I earn well [my living], very well even ,” he says philosophically, brushing aside speculation to focus on what matters most: his family's security and building his future.

Onana is already thinking about the post-football life

Off the pitch, it’s also his close relationship with the Cameroonian legend of MMA Francis Ngannou that piques curiosity, especially regarding possible sports infrastructure projects in Yaoundé and Douala. Recently seen at the inauguration of the Venice Hall complex in Yaoundé, led by the fighter, Onana chooses to use humor while displaying enormous complicity. “A joint project with Francis ? I don’t wish to say anything about that right now. He could hit me with a right, his punch really hurts ,” he jokes, before more seriously adding that the champion is “one of the greatest in the history of sport in Cameroon”, for whom he holds deep admiration both personally and professionally.

This extended stay in his homeland has also been an opportunity for the goalkeeper to lay the groundwork in the local economy. He is fiercely determined to succeed in his transition to the business world. “At 30, you have to think about life after your career. Our careers are short, you need to be wise and manage your money well,” he observes judiciously. Already active in real estate with a strong portfolio in Yaoundé, which he plans to expand to Douala and Kribi, he now has his sights on strategic sectors such as finance and agribusiness, all while maintaining the necessary discretion for large-scale investments.

To secure his transition and best navigate an entrepreneurial world he knows is risky, André Onana does not intend to rely only on his name. The footballer plans to go back to school to acquire the theoretical tools essential for his future business life. “Starting next year, I’m going to enroll in a business management program. I really want to be successful in business,” he announces. A structured approach that shows that for the 2023 Champions League finalist, everything is already (well) planned.