The Cameroon international is expected not to fly to the USA for the club’s pre-season tour, however
André Onana previously played for Ajax under Erik ten Hag before moving to Inter Milan in 2022 Credit: Getty Images/Marco Luzzani
Manchester United have agreed a deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana worth £44 million plus add-ons and will look to fly him over to England for his medical before joining the club’s USA tour.
Erik ten Hag identified the player he worked with at Ajax as his first-choice to replace David De Gea and their interest was confirmed by Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta last months before negotiations began, with a verbal offer now accepted.
The deal will hit Inter’s asking price of €51 million for the goalkeeper who started in the Champions League final against Manchester City last season. But the deal still has formalities to complete before he joins Ten Hag’s squad, starting with the paperwork for the Cameroon international to fly over to England.
Onana is not expected to complete his deal before United fly to America this week for their five pre-season fixtures ending in Las Vegas where they face Borussia Dortmund. But there is confidence that everything is now in place for the final stages of the transfer.
United have agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old, who will sign a five-year deal until 2028 with the option of a further season.
Onana was targeted after United refused to trigger De Gea’s one-year option and then released the Spaniard, who was at the club for 12 years, at the end of his contract despite talks over a fresh deal. Ten Hag had backed his keeper last season but in Onana has a goalkeeper with whom he has trust playing out from the back.
The pair worked together when Ajax reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, only to be knocked out by Tottenham in one of the great European comeback performances. He has since served a ban for taking a prohibited substance and moved to Inter a year ago on a free transfer, meaning the Italians will make a huge profit on him.
