André Onana Biography: Football Careers, Awards, Family And Net Worth

André Onana Biography: André Onana is a professional footballer renowned for his prowess as a goalkeeper. Born on April 2, 1996, in Nkol Ngok, Cameroon, Onana’s football journey began at a young age. He honed his skills at the Samuel Eto’o Foundation before moving to Europe to pursue a professional career.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana plays professionally for both the Cameroonian national team and the English club Manchester United. He is widely recognised as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, with exceptional reflexes, agility, and ball-playing abilities.

He has received numerous medals and awards throughout his career, including the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup, the Best African Goalkeeper, and the Indomitable Lion of the Year. He has also represented Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he helped the team finish third in 2021.

Onana’s Early Life

Andre Onana was born on April 2, 1996, in Nkol Ngok, a hamlet in Cameroon’s Central Region. He is the son of Adele and Francois Onana, both teachers. He has two brothers, Wariner and Emmanuel, who are also football players. Andre Onana grew up in a football-loving family and began playing the sport at a young age.

He entered the Samuel Eto’o Foundation, a football academy established by the famed Cameroonian striker, when he was 13 years old. He completed his primary and secondary studies at the institution, where he also honed his skills as a goalie.

Onana’s Football Career

Samuel Eto’o Foundation

Andre Onana spent four years at the Samuel Eto’o Foundation, impressing trainers and scouts with his performances. He was a member of the academy team that won the Copa del Rey Juvenil, a youth event in Spain, in 2010.

He also took part in the Nike Premier Cup, a global youth tournament, in 2011. He piqued the interest of Barcelona, one of the world’s top clubs, which asked him for a trial in 2010. He pleased the Catalan club, which signed him in 2011, at the age of 15.

Barcelona

Onana’s professional debut came with Barcelona B in 2011 after joining the famed La Masia academy. However, he sought more playing time and transferred to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in 2015. At Ajax, Onana flourished, becoming a vital cog in the team’s success. His remarkable shot-stopping abilities, distribution, and commanding presence earned him widespread recognition.

He was first assigned to the under-16 team and shared goalkeeping duties with Alex Sola. He moved up the ranks, playing for the under-17, under-19, and under-21 teams. He won multiple titles with the young teams, including the UEFA Young League, Copa del Rey Juvenil, and División de Honour. He also practiced with the first team, and Victor Valdes, Jose Manuel Pinto, and Claudio Bravo served as mentors for him.

However, he never made a senior appearance for Barcelona due to intense competition from the club’s experienced goalkeepers.

Ajax

Andre Onana opted to leave Barcelona in 2015, seeking more playing time and possibilities. He signed a three-year contract with Dutch club Ajax, which is noted for nurturing and developing youthful talent.

He began his career with Jong Ajax, a reserve team in the Eerste Divisie, Dutch football’s second tier. He made his Jong Ajax debut on August 14, 2015, in a 2-0 victory over FC Emmen. He played 39 games for Jong Ajax and kept 13 clean sheets. He was promoted to the first team in 2016, following Jasper Cillessen’s move to Barcelona.

He made his Ajax debut on August 20, 2016, in a 2-1 victory over Willem II. He rapidly established himself as Ajax’s first-choice goalkeeper, helping the club reach the UEFA Europa League final in 2017 when they were defeated by Manchester United.

He also won the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup, and the Johan Cruyff Shield with Ajax, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after goalkeepers.

Inter Milan

On July 1, 2022, Inter Milan officially confirmed Onana’s joining on a free transfer with a five-year contract. In January 2023, he won the Supercoppa Italiana over rivals AC Milan, and in May 2023, he defeated Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia. He was instrumental in leading Inter to the 2023 Champions League Final.

Manchester United

Andre Onana joined Manchester United, an English club and one of the world’s most successful teams, in July 2023 after only one season at Inter Milan. He signed a five-year contract with the Red Devils, who paid €35 million to Inter Milan. He made his Manchester United debut on August 21, 2023, in a 4-0 victory over Leeds United.

He has now emerged as a crucial member of the squad, keeping five clean sheets in 13 outings.
He has also helped Manchester United qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.

Cameroon National Team

Andre Onana made his Cameroon national team debut on October 9, 2016, in a 2-0 victory over Algeria during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He has subsequently established himself as the Indomitable Lions’ regular goalie, with 34 caps. He was a member of Cameroon’s squads for the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, when he helped the team finish second and third, respectively.

He is also anticipated to represent Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as they are placed in Group A alongside Germany, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia.

Family

Andre Onana married Melanie Kamayou, a French-Cameroonian model and entrepreneur. Following several years of dating, the pair married in a private ceremony in 2021.

They have a son named Andre Onana Jr., born in 2022. Onana and his family live in Manchester, England, where he plays for Manchester United.

Controversy: Doping ban

Andre Onana’s career suffered a significant setback in 2021 when he was suspended by UEFA for 12 months for doping. He tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He claimed he unintentionally took his wife’s medicine, which included the drug, rather than his own.

He appealed the punishment and was able to lower it to nine months after establishing that he had no intention of cheating. He missed the majority of the 2021–22 season and was unable to play for Ajax or Cameroon. He returned to action in November 2021 before joining Manchester United in July 2023.

Awards

Club
- Eredivisie: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 (Ajax)
- KNVB Cup: 2018–19, 2020–21 (Ajax)
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2019 (Ajax)
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2016–17 (Ajax)
Individual
- Best African Goalkeeper: 2018
- Indomitable Lion of the Year: 2018
- Eredivisie Goalkeeper of the Year: 2018–19
- Champions League (UCL) Squad of the Season: 2018–19
- IFFHS double CAF Men’s Team of the Year Award: 2019, 2020

Onana’s Net Worth and Salary

As of 2023, Andre Onana ranks among the top-paid goalkeepers globally, boasting a net worth of $5 million. His annual income from Manchester United amounts to €5 million. In addition to his football earnings, Onana generates revenue through endorsement deals and partnerships with prominent brands such as Nike, Pepsi, and Samsung.